diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-0.txt | 7853 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/12791-h.htm | 7345 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/002.png | bin | 0 -> 14374 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 214954 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 252266 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 153045 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 196915 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 295060 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-0.txt | 8227 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 166086 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 1295328 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/12791-h.htm | 7803 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/002.png | bin | 0 -> 14374 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 214954 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 252266 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 153045 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 196915 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 295060 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/12791-8.txt | 8257 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/12791-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 166296 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/12791.txt | 8257 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/12791.zip | bin | 0 -> 166261 bytes |
25 files changed, 47758 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12791-0.txt b/12791-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..41c8fe1 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7853 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12791 *** + +WELLS BROTHERS + +The Young Cattle Kings + +by + +ANDY ADAMS + +1911 + + + + +[Illustration: THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON (p.26)] + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + III. THE BOTTOM RUNG + IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + V. A FALL OF CRUMBS + VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK +VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + X. GOOD FIGHTING + XI. HOLDING THE FORT + XII. A WINTER DRIFT +XIII. A WELCOME GUEST + XIV. AN ILL WIND + XV. WATER! WATER! + XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT +XVII. "THE WAGON" +XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER + XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE + XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE + XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE + XXII. INDEPENDENCE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + + +The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for the +Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran drover, +Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway between the +former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious mishap befell +Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and the horse wrangler, +who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, reckless to the point of +injury, the pulse of healthy manhood beating a constant alarm to +rough contest. + +The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had overtaken +the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. During the evening, +a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when the stranger expressed a +wish to secure a specimen of the bird for its splendid plumage. On +Forrest's own suggestion, his being a long-range pistol and the covey +wary, the two exchanged belts. The visitor followed the flock, stealing +within range a number of times, and emptying the six-shooter at every +chance. On securing a fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the +herd, elated over his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before +returning the belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of +five cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and pistol +were returned to their owner. + +Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while the +outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in pastoral +contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the morning's work, when +the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly remarked: "If everybody's +ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; it's high time we were in the +saddle. Of course, that means the parting tussle between Quince and the +wrangler. It would be a shame to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- +they remind me so much of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in +and worry each other a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. +Fly at it, or we mount." + +The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the men +swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility of a +tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him to the +ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had barely time to +turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the two crashed against +the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was discharged. The men dismounted +instantly, the wrangler eased the victim to the ground, and when the +outfit gathered around, the former was smothering the burning clothing +of his friend and bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was +the first indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found +that the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground. + +The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular remarks of +the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly recalled to the +surrounding group, while the negligence which caused the accident was +politely suppressed. The stranger, innocently unaware of any mistake on +his part, lent a valuable hand in stanching the blood and in washing and +binding up the wounds. No bones were injured, and with youth and a +buoyant constitution, there was every hope of recovery. + +However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No one could +recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican River, unless +down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the visitor came to the +rescue. He was positive that some two years before, an old soldier had +taken a homestead five or six miles above the trail crossing on the +Beaver. He was insistent, and the foreman yielded so far as to order the +herd grazed forward to the Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in +their front. All the blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought +into use, in making a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan +started, carrying the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, +the foreman bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek. + +The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be correct. +About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, fringed with +willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which the homestead was +located. The presence of the willows was an indication of old beaver +dams, which the settler had improved until the water stood in long, +placid pools. In response to their hail, two boys, about fourteen and +sixteen years of age, emerged from the dug-out and greeted the horsemen. +On inquiry, it proved that their father had died during the previous +winter, at a settlement on the Solomon River, and the boys were then +confronted with the necessity of leaving the claim to avoid suffering +want. It was also learned that their mother had died before their father +had taken the homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight +their own battle. + +The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were bright-eyed +and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. Joel was the +oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by nature, with a shock +of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in height, the younger was the +equal of his brother, talkative, and frank in countenance. When made +acquainted with the errand of the trail boss, the older boy shook his +head, but Dell stepped forward: "Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of +his hand, "but our garden failed, and there won't be a dozen +roasting-ears in that field of corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it +might make fodder. We expect to pull out next week." + +"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman. + +"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's pension +was stopped. You see--" + +"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can help each +other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter and nurse this +wounded man of mine--" + +"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the sooner we +get out and find work the better." + +"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail man, now +aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a quarter +of beef." + +"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh meat." + +"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave the money +with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, I'll unload my +wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. I can get more +provision at the Republican River, and in the mean time, something +may turn up." + +The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the necessity of +accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every suggestion, but his +brother was tactful, questioning and combating the men, and looking +well to the future. A cold and unfriendly world, coupled with +misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his years, while the younger +one was sympathetic, trustful, and dependent. + +"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," said Dell +to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in time for +corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth fifty cents." + +"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this wounded +man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell how soldiers +died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we have to go, we +might as well go at once." + +According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the wayfaring +man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good Samaritan, the +older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with enthusiasm at the +opportunity of rendering every assistance. + +"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, but it's +because we're so poor and have nothing to offer." + +"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let me do the +rest." + +"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?" + +"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll leave two +good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you need to do is +to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and simply tell them +you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don Lovell's boys, and you can +levy on them for all they have. It's high time you were getting +acquainted with these trail outfits. Shelter this man of mine, and all +will come out well in the end. Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you +boys, and he might take you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, +and he might take a fancy to you two." + +Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two brothers +reëntered the dug-out, and the men led their horses down to the creek +for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood inside a wooden corral, a +rickety wagon and a few rusty farming implements were scattered about, +while over all the homestead was the blight of a merciless +summer drouth. + +"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail boss to the +stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this water and range, +in a few years they would be independent men. No wonder that oldest boy +is cautious. Just look around and see the reward of their father's and +their own labor. Their very home denies them bread." + +"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, "when you +suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only argument that +touched him." + +"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have several +cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs and the +like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make their hungry +hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest would make the +ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving them each a saddle +pony; argue the matter, and try and win me over." + +The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when scarcely +halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to meet them. "If +you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," earnestly said the boy, +"we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to be feverish at night, and +ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can sleep outside or in the stable." + +"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter I'll bet +my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? Why, you can +have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the outfit. I have a +rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I have a lurking suspicion +that there are a few genuine goose-hair pillows in the outfit, and you +may pick and choose. They are all yours for the asking." + +The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for entering +the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. When all +agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their horses, promising to +fulfill their part of the covenant that afternoon or evening. + +Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is all +right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he tried to +shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. Hereafter, in +dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The death of his parents +has developed a responsibility in the older boy which the younger one +doesn't feel. That's about all the difference in the two lads. You must +deal gently with Joel, and never offend him or expose his needs." + +"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's the name +of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home with those +boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a week he'll have +those youngsters walking on clouds." + +The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a dust +cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then hidden behind +the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On every hand the +undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and the men rode forward +at a leisurely pace. + +"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail foreman, +arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. This government +ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, robbing children, +orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a fair sample of the skin +game the government's running--bets you one hundred and sixty acres +against fourteen dollars you can't hold down a homestead for five years. +And big as the odds look, in nine cases out of ten, in this country, the +government wins. It ought to be convicted on general principles. Men are +not to be pitied, but it's a crime against women and children." + +"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the stranger; "you +would kick if you were being hung. There's good in everything. A few +years of youthful poverty, once they reach manhood, isn't going to hurt +those boys. The school of experience has its advantages." + +"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next few +years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. "Now, there's +the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and select a good camp, +well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet the commissary and herd. +We'll have to lay over this afternoon, which will admit of watering the +herd twice to-day. Try and find some shade." + +The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman hailed +his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and reported securing a +haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook to watch for a signal, +at the hands of the stranger, indicating a camp on the creek, he turned +and awaited the arrival of the lead cattle of the trailing column. +Issuing orders to cover the situation, he called off half the men, first +veering the herd to the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon +and saddle horses. + +Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long pool. A +hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which a tarpaulin +was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered canopy. Amid a fire +of questions, the wounded man was lifted from the wagon. + +"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said he +appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there is, I +ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can see your +eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me peevish. I want to +feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, tell it all over +once more." + +The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which the +foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and making +valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their guest while +he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after the accident, by +insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the boys and bespeaking +their protection. + +The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew that the +hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the same. "Very +well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my calf that's +gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every stranger that +comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly cow hands." He +hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he continued, "about this +nester layout is those red-headed boys. And these two are just about +petting age. I can almost see them eating sugar out of my hand." + +After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of medical +aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had returned and +reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately the destination of +the stranger was a settlement on the Republican River, and he +volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night and secure a +surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile calls. The owner +of the herd, had he been present, would have insisted on medical +attention, the wounded man reluctantly consented, and the stranger, +carrying a hastily written letter to Mr. Lovell, took his departure. + +Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, but in a +roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the one-room shack was +bountifully provisioned, while the foreman remained to await the arrival +of a physician. The day had brought forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from +the dark hour of want to the dawn of plenty, while the future was a +sealed book. In addition to the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung +in the sod stable, while two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the +questioning boys. + +"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as their backs +were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see they are unfit for +saddle, but with a little attention can be cured--I'll show you how. You +have an abundance of water, and after I leave, wash their backs, morning +and evening, and they'll be well in a month. Since you are running a +trail hospital, you want to cater to man and beast. Of course, if you +boys nurse this man through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal +to Mr. Lovell to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case +you return to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here." + +The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The transformation +seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was toned and tempered +by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day had filled empty hearts +with happiness, and when darkness fell, the boys threw off all former +reserve, and the bond of host and guest was firmly established. Forrest, +even, cemented the tie, by dividing any needful attention between +the boys. + +"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the presence of +the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest one Doc and the +youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them just plain Joel and +Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor bright, I never met a boy +who can pour water on a wound, that seems to go to the right spot, like +Dell Wells. One day with another, give me a red-headed boy." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + + +The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in the +tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to pouring +water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had reached a swollen +condition by morning, and considerable anxiety was felt over the +uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned the previous evening, +it was possible that one might arrive by noon, otherwise there was no +hope before evening or during the night. + +"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor comes +from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and save an +hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to the first +divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it when he went +to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the doctor a six or +seven mile drive." + +"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the trail +foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can post the +boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this afternoon or +evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the stirrup straps on +Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?" + +"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired the +horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now that a +chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. "Why, I can +follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used to go halfway to +the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new boots." + +"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient seems +to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there will be +plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share." + +The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after the horse +stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object lesson to the +boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting the horse to be +fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell was allowed to ride +past the tent for inspection. + +"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell halted +before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think that that boy +was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle poise, will you, +Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is slightly sun-burned. We must +get him some boots. With that red hair, he never ought to ride any other +horse than a black stallion." + +When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent to +intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided the +matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply can't spare +Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, and we'll have to +give it an occasional rubbing to keep the circulation up. There's where +Dell has the true touch; actually he reminds me of my mother. She could +tie a rag around a sore toe, in a way that would make a boy forget all +his trouble. Hold Joel a minute." + +The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded man, and +when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he continued: "Now, +Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with you. Show them the brand +on that horse you're riding, and give them distinctly to understand, +even if you are barefooted, that you are one of Don Lovell's men. Of +course you don't know him, but with that old man, it's love me, love my +dog. Get your dinner with the outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the +south. There's liable to be another herd along any day, and we'll need +a cow." + +Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of age; +neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts went out in +manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the other hand, a day had +brought forth promise and fulfillment, from strangers, to the boys, +until the latter's confidence knew no bounds. At random, the men +virtually spoke of the cattle on a thousand hills, until the boys fully +believed that by merely waving a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow +walk forth. Where two horses were promised, four had appeared. Where +their little store of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been +multiplied many fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with +intrusion, a tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, +had risen out of a dip in the plain. + +There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any discourtesy +to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman saddled his horse and +accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully reviewing the details of his +errand. Left behind, and while rubbing the wounded limb, Dell regaled +his patient with a scrap of family history. "Pa never let us boys go +near the trail," said he. "It seemed like he was afraid of you Texas +men; afraid your cattle would trample down our fields and drink up all +our water. The herds were so big." + +"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, "the owner +would pay for it, which would be better than letting it go to waste. One +day's hot winds would absorb more water than the biggest herd of cattle +could drink. This ain't no farming country." + +"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this season, +and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me rub your knee, +there where the bullet skipped, between the bandages." + +The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning farming +for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," said he, +"was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given them the water, +with or without price, and bought any cripples or sore-footed cattle. +Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle on these long drives, and +he could have bought them for a song and sung it himself. The buffalo +grass on the divides and among these sand hills is the finest winter +grazing in the country. This water that you are wasting would have +yearly earned you one hundred head of cripples. A month's rest on this +creek and they would kick up their heels and play like calves. After +one winter on this range, they would get as fat as plover. Your father +missed his chance by not making friends with the Texas trail men." + +"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell. + +"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, you and +Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. Cast your +bread upon the waters." + +"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There was a +marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the trail boss +cantered up to the tent. + +"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a dim +trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to have built +a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle trail. In case the +doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent orders to fly a flag at the +junction, and Joel to return home. But if the doctor doesn't reach there +until after darkness, he'll never see the flag, and couldn't follow the +trail if he did. We'll have to send Joel back." + +"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; build it +in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the road." + +"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to Dell, +"but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse and turn him +in the corral." + +The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came riding +in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the herd, a flag +had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other instructions +delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance to the ford on the +Republican, and could figure to an hour, by different saddle gaits, the +necessary time to cover the distance, even to Culbertson. Still there +was a measure of uncertainty: the messenger might have lost his way; +there might not have been any physician within call; accidents might +have happened to horse or rider,--and one hour wore away, followed +by another. + +Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six o'clock. "It's +my intention to follow him within an hour," said the foreman, as the boy +rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build the fire as well as any +one, and we'll return before midnight. That'll give the doctor the last +minute and the benefit of every doubt." + +The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over the +valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the neigh of a +horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers when he sights a +wagon or camp. Dell's come." + +Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a buckboard +following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle rattled up, led by +the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a battery of artillery. "This +is the place, Doctor," said he, as if dismissing a troop from +cavalry drill. + +The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had left +Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team at the +ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles since +sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," said he, as he +entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to do. Your men with the +herd told me how the accident happened." Then to Forrest, "Son, think +it'll ever happen again?" + +"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," replied +Forrest. + +"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: they +usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," commented the +doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the examination proceeded, +there was a running comment maintained, bordering on the humorous. + +"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would allow the +boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short lecture on the +danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a loaded cartridge. The +boys are young and may take the lesson seriously, but you're wasting +good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm an old dog." + +"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued the +doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. There's an +occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but that's not in my +department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry for muscle, but +fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is just a simple case of +treatment and avoiding complications. Six weeks to two months and you +can buckle on your six-shooter again. Hereafter, better wear it on the +other side, and if another accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in +each leg and level you up." + +"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," protested +Forrest. + +"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with a quiet +wink at the others. + +The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the boys. +Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance of making +friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the purchase of +disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the boys were snugly +in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd to-day?--afraid of the +cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former subject was exhausted. + +"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of his +bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other folks." + +Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not shooting and +galloping their horses?" + +"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a shot +fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a hair, and they +changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I could see, they +wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely cowboys, because they +had over three thousand big beeves, and had come all the way +from Texas." + +"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment. + +"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The column of +cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city street, and +the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of their own accord. +Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no one as much as looked +at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. The herd seemed so easy +to handle." + +"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell. + +"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for their +places. Those in the lead were _point_ men, those in the middle were +_swing_ men, and the one who brought up the rear was the _drag_ man. +Then there was the cook, who drove the wagon, and the wrangler, who took +care of the horses--over one hundred and forty head. They call the band +of saddle horses the remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for +relay--a relay of horses." + +"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would buy us a +cow from the next herd that passed." + +"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the Yellowstone +River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the smartest cattle! +An hour before noon one of the point men gave a shrill whistle, and the +whole column of beeves turned aside and began feeding. The men called it +'throwing the herd off the trail to graze.' It was just like saying +_halt_! to soldiers--like we saw at that reunion in Ohio." + +"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger brother. + +"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on horseback. Stop +asking foolish questions and go to sleep," concluded Joel, with pitying +finality, and turned to the wall. + +"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" There was +challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no answer. A +seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight over the other, +in range cattle, and there was no common ground between sleepy +bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted in the doctor, +anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded his assertion. + +Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the wounds. The +doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged otherwise. "Let's call it +Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. Besides, if I overtake the herd, +I'll have to make a hand. Wait until to-morrow, and we'll bear each +other company. If another herd shows up on the trail to-day, it may have +a cow. We must make these boys comfortable." + +The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by quarreling with +his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel rode out to the +nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on the upper Beaver. +"That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, "and where we get our +wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the bottom land has grown up +with timber, some as big as a man's body. It doesn't look very far away, +but it takes all day to go and come, hauling wood. There's big springs +just above, and the water never fails. That's what makes the trees +so thrifty." + +"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said Priest, +surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There are the sand +hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet of grass." + +"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had to go +to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and what we could +earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved up; pa's service +in the army counted on the residence required. It doesn't matter now if +we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is to keep the taxes paid." + +"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail boss in +fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you boys only had +the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on shares, or buy +young steers on a credit." + +"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully replied +Joel. + +"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly replied +the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of your +beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are hunting a +market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the range, and the +cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it." + +"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in his +bewilderment. + +"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and every +one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. "Range is +being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's your chance. +Water and grass, world without end." + +Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older man's +advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The grind of +poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely looked +forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the domain +surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I don't doubt your +advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you could, but Dell and +I had better return to the settlements. Mr. Quince will surely be +well by fall." + +"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman. + +"I will," eagerly replied the boy. + +"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you are +thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if he knows +any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to stock it. In +the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do that?" + +"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the promise. + +"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended on +securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows all the +drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until the season +ends. Now, don't fail to ask him." + +"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that control +of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that it had +a value?" + +"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never lose sight +of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten thousand cattle, +the year round, is as good as money in the bank." + +Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned their +horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the southward, but were +unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the signal of an approaching +herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that he had instilled interest and +inquiry into the boy's mind, which, if carefully nurtured, might result +in independence. They had ridden several miles, discussing different +matters, and when within sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his +horse. "Would you mind repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, +about control of a range by prior rights?" + +The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On the +range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates back to the +first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense of equity and +justice which has always existed among pastoral people. In America it +dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. Among us Texans, a man's +range is respected equally with his home. By merely laying claim to the +grazing privileges of public domain, and occupying it with flocks or +herds, the consent of custom gives a man possession. It is an asset that +is bought and sold, and is only lost when abandoned. In all human +migrations, this custom has followed flocks and herds. Title to land is +the only condition to which the custom yields." + +"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with cattle, and +hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated the boy. + +"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's primal +range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, the settler, +seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is yours. Go in +and win." + +"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel. + +"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. That +old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. There's an +old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now if you have the +will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince will find the way. +Try him, anyhow." + +"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the morning." + +The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening was spent +in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, Priest said to the +doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd like your opinion about +these boys starting a little ranch on the Beaver." + +"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, "there are +too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise nothing out +here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are you cowmen. You +ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, and your general +health is actually discouraging to my profession. Yes, I think I'll have +to approve of the suggestion. A life in the open, an evening by a +camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I wish I had my life to live +over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wells Brothers making a big +success as ranchmen. They have health and youth, and there's nothing +like beginning at the bottom of the ladder. In fact, the proposition has +my hearty approval. Fight it out, boys; start a ranch." + +"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen want to +make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses while I get +breakfast. Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BOTTOM RUNG + + +An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, as the +Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity of pastoral +life affects its people, influencing their normal natures into calm and +tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected start at sunrise, after +breakfast the trail foreman languidly sauntered out to the corral, +followed by the boys. + +The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you think is +detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun is nearly an +hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him from the tent +opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with his quirt and +chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they are talking about?" + +"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll chance the +subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow with the boys, +most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life easy--the cows will calve +in the spring." + +Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss put in an +appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, are you, +Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile. + +"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. Still, I +am some little distance from home, and have a family that likes to see +me occasionally." + +The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest to the +boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable to think of +something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to killing time, that +old boy is the bell steer." + +Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was to +intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance among +trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days before, while +passing that supply point, and it was a matter of waiting until a herd +should appear. + +There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the nearest +swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working overtime; the dust +cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the message, the sentinel's +horse tore past the tent and was only halted at the corral. "It's +there!" he shouted, returning, peering through the tent-flaps. "They're +coming; another herd's coming. It's in the dip behind the first divide. +Shall I go? I saw it first." + +"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and let's make a +little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we get a cow. Come +in and we'll plot against the Texans." + +With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, Forrest +continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk the situation +over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the trouble is, we +don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play innocent and foxy. +If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll water in the Beaver about +four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek and keep your eagle eye open for +a lone horseman, either at the crossing or on the trail. That's the +foreman, and that's the man we want to see. He may be ten miles in the +lead of his herd, and you want to ride straight to him. Give him all the +information you can regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of +Lovell's herds. That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up +to your errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask the +foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your work is +over, except going back after the cow." + +Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold on," +commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride slowly, let +your horse set his own pace, and don't come back without your man. Make +out that I'm badly wounded, and that you feel uneasy that blood +poisoning may set in." + +The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of the +tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount over +level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the horse, and +before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came in view of the +anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the horizon, the haze and +heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view that every object looked +blurred and indistinct. Even the dust cloud was missing; and pushing on +a mile farther, he reined in again. Now and then in the upper sky, an +intervening cloud threw a shadow over the plain, revealing objects more +distinctly. For a moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like +prophecy fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford! + +In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a fellow +being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing distance, +greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. There was +water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no pilot, the summons +found a ready response, and the two were soon riding up the Beaver in +a jog trot. + +The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon had +Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell outfit," said +the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. Old man Don's a +nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on the trail. I've been +expecting to hear something like this. If it isn't rebranding their +saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure to be something worse. And +now that flat-headed Quince Forrest plows a fire-guard down his own leg +with a six-shooter! Well, wouldn't that sour sweet milk!" + +"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his pistol, +and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge." + +"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's an old +story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some prowling +tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this short-horn. Yes, +I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his saddle and ride +bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. Rather shallow-brained +to be allowed so far from home." + +"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At least Mr. +Quince don't speak very highly of that man." + +"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth ever comes +out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel Quince is +famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable door. That +other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of Bibles, never to +bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game never repeats; the play +never comes up twice alike. If that old boy's gray matter ever comes to +full bloom, long before his allotted time, he'll wither away." + +Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend was +weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either Priest or +Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming faults of others +that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even questioned Dell with +such an innocent countenance that the lad withered before his glance, +and became disheartened at the success of the errand. Forced to the +defense continually, on several occasions Dell nearly betrayed the +object of bringing the new man to the homestead, but in each instance +was saved by some fortunate turn in the conversation. Never was sight +more welcome than the tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief +from duty more welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to +the boy who had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the +object of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust. + +The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, in order +to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and the flaps, +rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, Forrest watched +the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, the wounded man's +greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old Nat Straw," said he, +extending his hand. "Here, I've been running over in my mind the +different trail bosses who generally go north of the Platte River, but +you escaped my memory. It must have gotten into my mind, somehow, that +you had married and gone back to chopping cotton. Still driving for +Uncle Jess Ellison, I reckon?" + +"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, glancing at +the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying off, and trying +to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You must be +getting doty." + +"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged that +I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a fool all +your life!" + +Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the boy, as we +rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of fixing in your upper +loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend you, but it was easy to see +that he hadn't known you long." + +"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said Forrest. +"Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I overlooked +warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I can see old Nat +leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors dragging. Don't +believe a word he told you, and don't even give him a pleasant look +while he stays here." + +The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, to water +and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," resumed +Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my hard luck, I've fallen +into angels' hands. These boys are darling fellows. Now before you +leave, square yourself with that youngest one." + +"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied Straw. +"It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that you hear and +only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe hunting oftener +when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. There are just about +so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've got to take them along +with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and mumps." + +During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the sad +condition which confronted the lads, when accident and necessity threw +him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's opinion of the valuable +range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and urged his assistance in +securing some cattle with which to stock and claim it for the boys. + +"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a start in +life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've turned hundreds of +them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the delivery of a herd. +Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of mine to get a few hundred +head during this summer. Here's the place to drop your cripples and +stray cows. From what Paul says, there's range above here for thousands +of cattle, and that's the foundation of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, +it has a value in proportion to its carrying capacity, and Priest and I +want these boys to secure it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to +make a fight for them." + +The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me in and +we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this year to the +same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as last season, and +I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my hands last summer, +held me down to the straight road brand at delivery, and I'll see to it +that there are no strays in my herd this year. I went hungry for fresh +beef, and gave those sharks over forty good strays. They knew I'd have +to leave them behind me. Watch me do it again." + +"About how many have you now, and how do they run?" + +"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a good cow +down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five head, and I'll +cut you out five or six cripples. They could never make it +through, nohow." + +"Any calves among the strays?" + +"Two or three." + +"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the others to +me. We'll let on that I've bought them." + +That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was eaten in +the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail crossing that +afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut out all strays and +cripples. One of the boys would return with him, for the expected cow, +and when volunteers were called for, Dell hesitated in offering his +services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw to Joel, who had jumped at the +chance. "I'm a little weak on this red-headed boy, and when a cow hand +picks on me for his side partner, the choice holds until further orders. +Bring in the horses off picket, son, and we'll be riding." + +The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy departed +than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in love with the +idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to be; just about +midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog wild to get in on +it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get sick myself, and I want to +be a stockholder in this hospital of yours. What's your favorite +color in cows?" + +Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me a +milk-white cow _with a black face_" instantly said Forrest. "White cows +are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to drink +black coffee." + +"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what color +for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no answer. + +"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a dollar a +head more than mongrel colors." + +"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can pick +his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that little passel +of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to Forrest, "that I'm +sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the cows. Yes, I'm coming +back and stay all night." + +Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming back, was +going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but that this +stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he would not trifle +with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded man. All this seemed +so in keeping with the partial outline of Priest, the old gray-haired +foreman, that the boy's caution gave place to firm belief. If generous +princes ever walked the earth, it was just possible that liberal ones in +the rough were still riding it in disguise. + +Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," said he, +throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along with this +strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white one, and you're +to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your place, I'd pick a red +one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head more than any other color." + +There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his brother had +not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered the younger boy. + +"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, with a +loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. "I left it +to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. And say, this +hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one between Dodge and +Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take stock in it. I wonder if +that was what he meant by sawing off a little passel of cattle on Mr. +Quince. Now, don't argue or ask foolish questions, but keep your eyes +and ears open." + +Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to meet his +herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the cattle, then +nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses and rode for the +rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard of the trailing +cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed animals were to be found. +The drag men knew them to a hoof, were delighted to hear that all +cripples were to be dropped, and half a dozen were cut off and started +up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the nearest water," said Straw to the drag +men, "and then push them up the creek until I overtake you. Here's where +we drop our strays and cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail +hospital." + +The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They filled +the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, crowding into +the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek in slaking their +thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost as uniform in size as +that many marbles, and the ease with which a few men handled the herd +became a nine-day wonder to the astonished boy. And when the word passed +around to cut all strays up the creek, the facility with which the men +culled out the alien down to one class and road brand, proved them +masters in the craft. It seemed as easily done as selecting a knife +from among the other trinkets in a boy's pocket. + +After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail boss +drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and classed them +as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with the cripples, the +promised little passel numbered thirty-five cattle, not counting three +calves. Straw excused his men, promising to overtake them the next +morning, and man and boy drifted the nucleus of a future ranch toward +the homestead. + +"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," said +Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one for +yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your choice. Any +time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to pick one for your +own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or bad. Remember, it +carries my compliments to you, as one of the founders of the first +hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle trail." + +Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were dropped to +the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get these tender +steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above the improvements. +You'll find them near here on the water. Now, we'll sight the tent +around the next bend, and you may point out your choice." + +"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, pointing out +a yearling. + +A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted Straw; +"shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that black cow +and calf?" + +"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've heard they +bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the bunch." + +"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her increase +would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a cowman, you'll have +to do some of your own thinking." + +Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally guilty, as +his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived from the random +remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in range cattle, and +Dell's error was based in not relying on his own judgment. + +On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased around to +the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the little herd was +grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving Dell to nurse the +nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted at the tent. "Well," +said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, "that red-headed Dell is +surely the making of a great cowman. All successful men begin at the +bottom of the ladder, and he surely put his foot on the lowest rung. +What do you suppose his choice was?" + +"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest. + +"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if he +didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!" + +Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his laughter. +"Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can say Dell wasn't +true to his colors." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + + +The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the crippled +cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing needful, and +it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. They were driven up +among the others, now scattered about in plain sight in the valley +above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral contentment. + +"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to Forrest, as +the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make this valley look +good. What you want to do now is to keep on drawing more. Don't allow no +outfit to pass without chipping in, at least give them the chance, and +this trail hospital will be on velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell +outfits will tear their shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that +needn't bar the other herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they +can chip in a sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and +if they won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. +You ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays." + +The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply points were +oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long stretches of +unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle to the Northwest, +was an unknown port. The monotony of from three to five months on the +trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, while a glass of milk or +even an hour in the shade was a distinct relief. Straw was reluctant to +go, returning to make suggestions, by way of excuse, and not until +forced by the advancing day did he mount and leave to overtake his herd. + +Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of brands +and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson in reading +brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to right," said +Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or downward. If more than +one brand is on an animal, the upper one is the holding or one in which +ownership is vested. Character brands are known by name, and are used +because difficult to alter. There is scarcely a letter in the alphabet +that a cattle thief can't change. When a cow brute leaves its home +range, it's always a temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and +characters are not so easily changed." + +The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that cattle +were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A notice was +accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, from the Texas +and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same, +including all its tributaries, by virtue of possession and occupancy +vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. "How does that sound?" inquired +Forrest, its author, giving a literal reading of the notice. "Nothing +small or stingy about that, eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty." + +"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big country?" +pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this creek." + +"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we make a +spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice down at the +trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see it, and nail your +colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and must be respected." + +Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was detailed on +sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each trip he managed to +find some excuse to ride among the cattle. "What's the brand on my white +cow?" inquired Forrest, the object leading up to another peculiarity +in color. + +"I couldn't _read_ it," said Dell, airing his range parlance. + +"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" inquired the +wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue. + +"Not that I remember; why?" + +"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one color that +she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a white face, but +you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored face. That line is +drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never shoot a wild swan with +a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, or meet a pure white cow +with a black face. Hereafter, if any one attempts to send you on a +wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, tell them that no such animal ever +walked this earth." + +Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was sighted by +the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned themselves to random +conversation. + +"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you why you +picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a cow. Straw +laughed at you." + +"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more than any +other color." + +"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority for that +statement?" + +"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to Mr. +Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in defense of +his actions. + +"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you actually +know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the best brand +reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, as furnished by +Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I want the road and ranch +brand on the cripples, and the only or holding brand on the others. Now, +fool one another if you can. Ride through them slowly, and the one who +brings me a perfect list is my bully boy." + +The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several hours +were spent in copying brands. These included characters, figures, and +letters, and to read them with skill was largely a matter of practice. +Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this instance the amateur's list +would be compared with that of an experienced trail foreman, a neutral +judge from which there was no appeal. + +The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them read, +but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in reading +characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half dozen of the +latter in Straw's list, a _turkey track_ being the most difficult to +interpret, but when all characters were fully understood, Joel still had +four errors to Dell's three. The cripples were found to be correct in +each instance, and were exempt from further disturbance. Forrest now +insisted that to classify, by enumerating each grade, would assist in +locating the errors, which work would have to be postponed +until morning. + +The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. Forrest +regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of the Texans in +reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," said he, "we have +boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a novel. I know men who +can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, as they leave a corral, or +trail along, and not only classify them but also give you every brand +correctly. Now, that's the kind of cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, +and to-morrow morning you must get these brands accurate. What +was that?" + +Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded like a +shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant hail. + +"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the creek." + +"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in this +country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it up with a +Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest knoll. It's more +than likely some trail man hunting this camp." + +The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was some +fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching horse was +distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, and the prompt +hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is Quince Forrest here?" +he inquired, as his horse shied at the tent. + +"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice the +horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. "Come in +and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face." + +Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling at a +straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. Priest +wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted suicide--unfortunate in +love was the reason given--and I have orders to inquire into your health +or scatter flowers on your grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no +complications, I hope?" + +"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage. + +"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, and I rode +through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to eat, now would +be an awful nice time to mention it." + +Seay's wants were looked after. + +"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired Forrest, +resuming the conversation. + +"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both herds--live with +the lead one and occasionally go back and see my own. It all depends on +who feeds best." + +"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued Forrest. + +"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three o'clock +to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. My outfit acts +as rear-guard to Blocker's herd." + +These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each other in +months, and a fire of questions followed, and were answered. The +chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and field, led up to +the prospects for a northern demand for cattle. + +"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to a +question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will leave +Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man Don isn't +driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will pass Ogalalla +before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive going north of the +Platte will come next month. With the exception of scattering herds, the +first of August will end the drive." + +The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in the +tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in life. + +"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't tasted +meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. It's a good +range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year may be a little +tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for the necessary +staples, we can provision them until next spring. You must leave some +flour and salt and beans and the like." + +"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you ever +notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit gets +tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, and after +the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie chicken and fried +trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an elegant taste for dainties. +Nothing but good old beef ever makes them even think of home again. Yes, +my cook will give you his last bean, and make a presentation +speech gratis." + +Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had left +the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making crutches. +Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them out, and by +assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased into an old family +rocking-chair in the shade of the tent. + +"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some old +patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white cow +yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your uncle John +Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up as a reward to +complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you ready?" + +The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with the one +rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's regarding a +dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under the +classification the errors were easily located, and summoning the +visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation. + +"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's the +roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell and Joel's. +Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting the list perfect, +and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel differs on a +three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, get them straight, +because we're expecting to receive more cattle this evening. Pass on +these brands before you leave to meet your herd this afternoon. And +remember, there's a cow and calf at stake for whichever one of these +boys first gets the roll correct." + +After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The cattle were +lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding within a rod, thus +rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell led the way to the dun +cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, the boy called for his list +in possession of the man. "Let me take my roll a minute," said he, "and +I'll make the correction. It isn't a four bar four, it's four equals +four; there's two bars instead of one. The cow and calf is mine. That +gives me three." + +The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been fairly +earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's errors were +easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the mere failure to +note the lines of difference between the figure eight and the letter S +had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay amused himself by pointing +out different animals and calling for their brands, and an envious +rivalry resulted between the brothers, in their ability to read +range script. + +"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode homeward, "are +gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever forgotten. Twenty +years hence, you boys will remember all these brands. One man can read +brands at twice the distance of another, and I have seen many who could +distinguish cattle from horses, with the naked eye, at a distance of +three miles. When a man learns to know all there is about cattle, he +ought to be getting gray around the edges." + +Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice might trip +his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's nothing like having +studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, and it won him a cow and +calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. I wonder how he is on +driving mules." + +"I can drive them," came the prompt reply. + +"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the trail +crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything they give you +and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we begin laying in a +year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, followed by a late spring, +and there's nothing like having enough. Relieve them of all their dried +fruits, and make a strong talk for the staples of life. I may want to +winter here myself, and a cow camp should make provision for more or +less company." + +Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," said +he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of the +herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form." + +It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the trail +crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a quandary, +between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the passing herds, yet +a bond of obligation to the wounded man required his obedience. Forrest +had noticed the horse under saddle, the impatience of the boy, but +tactfully removed all uneasiness. + +"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare you this +afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, but we have so +much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you must get me four +poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and make a sunshade out +of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. Have the props ready, and +in the morning Seay will show you how to stretch a tarpaulin for a +sunshade. And then along towards evening, you must drift our little +bunch of cattle at least a mile up the creek. I'm expecting more this +evening, and until we learn the brands on this second contingent, they +must be kept separate. And then, since we've claimed it, we want to make +a showing of occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. +Within a month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and +be watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it." + +Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the arbor, were +cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at hand. When the +cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday rest, the impatient +lad was allowed to graze them around the bend of the creek. There was +hardly enough work to keep an active boy employed, and a social hour +ensued. "Things are coming our way," said Forrest. "This man Seay will +just about rob Blocker's outfit. When it comes to making a poor mouth, +that boy Dorg is in a class by himself. Dell will just about have a +wagon load. You boys will have to sleep in the tent hereafter." + +It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to the +carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in the +staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and beans, while +a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots which, after a +wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were among the assets. It +was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a free discard of two trail +outfits, all of which found an acceptable lodgment at the new ranch. + +"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. Blocker's +foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He says that when +he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only put on the little +and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's such a funny fellow. He +made me try on those boots, and when he saw they would fit, he ordered +their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to give them to me or he would fight +him at sunrise." + +"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. "Well, +that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new country. This +ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my crutch for a wand, +and everything we need seems to just bob up out of the plain. Cattle +coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming to supper, in fact, +everything coming our way. Dell, get up a banquet--who cares +for expense!" + +It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed above the +homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, the cripples +had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the next morning. With +the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to reach the opening, and by +clinging to the tent-pole, waved a welcome to the approaching trail men. + +Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted his +host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what kind of a +dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the square, there goes +my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the gift carries the +compliments of my employer, Captain John. That red-headed boy delivered +my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out that I'm somebody that's come +a long way, and that you're tickled to death to see me, and order the +fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I won't even dismount." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A FALL OF CRUMBS + + +An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to overtake +their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully employed. The +cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the commissary stores +assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men had stretched the +sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state before his own +tent door. + +The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, they were a +mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. Occasionally a trail +foreman would provide his outfit with a milk cow before starting, or +gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly given his cow to the +hospital on the Beaver. + +A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the twilight +of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and only ceased near +the middle of the following forenoon. The creek filled to its banks, the +field and garden freshened in a day, and the new ranch threw off the +blight of summer drouth. + +"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst forth at +noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now that water is +sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will cool the weather and +freshen the grass, and every drover with herds on the trail will push +forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol the crossing on the Beaver, +as the rain will lay the dust for a week and rob us of our signal." + +The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was daily +detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a herd, if timing +its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could be sighted. On a +primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle trail, every benefit to +the herd was sought, and the freshened range and running water were a +welcome breeze to the drover's sail. + +The first week after the rain only three herds reached the Beaver. Each +foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, but the herds +were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for delivery on army +contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of owners. The usual +flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled and lame saddle stock, +and of useless commissary supplies, was missing, and only the well +wishes of the wayfaring were left to hearten man and boy at the +new ranch. + +The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's herds +passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased to one +hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, while the +commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load being necessary +to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In all, during the week, +fifteen herds passed, only three of which refused the invitation to +call, while one was merely drifting along in search of a range to take +up and locate with a herd of cattle. Its owners, new men in the +occupation, were scouting wide, and when one of them discovered +Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his delight was unbounded, as the +range met every requirement for establishing a ranch. + +The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the source of +the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he rode down the +creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend of the Beaver, was +surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing the value of the range, +Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the first contingent of strays up +the creek, farther and farther, until they were then ranging within a +mile of the grove. The newcomer could hardly control his chagrin, and +as he rode along, scarcely a mile was passed but more cattle were +encountered, and finally the tent and homestead loomed in sight. + +"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the stranger, +as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a homestead, I suppose?" + +Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the latter; +"this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from the trail +crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the trail with +cattle, I reckon?" + +"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the man. +"I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine grove of +timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, we'll move in +within a few days and take possession." + +"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely inquired +Forrest. + +"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have escaped +from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll have them all +rounded up and pushed down the creek." + +Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the arbor and +took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was a picture of +contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, and qualifying his +remarks with rare irony. + +"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and stay for +dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, come to some +friendly understanding." + +"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and will be +anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we don't care to +locate any farther north." + +"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your cattle. You +seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the wounded man. + +"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty of +unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to graze +five thousand cattle." + +"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the Beaver, will +carry ten thousand head the year round," replied Forrest, languidly +indifferent. + +"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer. + +Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You have the +name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some time ago, and +those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. Before you round up +any cattle and drive them out, you had better look into the situation +thoroughly. You surely know and respect range customs." + +"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to hold the +whole country with a handful of cattle." + +"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as fast as +possible," politely replied Forrest. + +"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," authoritatively +asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a thousand cows, and +I've decided on that hackberry grove as headquarters." + +"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like tones. +"Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. Their range +runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the headwaters of +Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you can't stay for dinner, +you'll have time to ride down to the crossing of the Texas and Montana +trail on this creek. There you'll find the posted notice, so that he who +runs may read, that Wells Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll +furnish you a pencil and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the +formal notice and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong +enough to outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. +I've met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet." + +The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see the object +in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a legal question," +said he, mounting. + +"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase of a +herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of beginners +like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance of range is a +good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and sheet of paper." + +"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining away. "I +suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without halting. + +"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," shouted +the crippled Texan. + +Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. The boy +had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession of a range, +and now the envy of others had threatened his interests. + +"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is like a +page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: that you +took your range in good time, and that it has a value. This very +afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to those springs +above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample around the water and +noon in the shade of the motte. That's possession, and possession is +nine points, and the other fellow can have the tenth. If any one wants +to dispute your rights or encroach on them, I'll mount a horse and go to +the trail for help. The Texans are the boys to insist on range customs +being respected. It's time I was riding a little, anyhow." + +Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds due to +reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of the foremen +around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if you want to see +him, you had better come down to the crossing. He knows you, and makes +out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come down, he'll give you a +quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's one of Jess +Pressnell's bosses." + +"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the horses +and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a scaffold to get +me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, because hereafter we +must almost live on horseback." + +The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, returned +to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the Beaver, in +order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its living springs. The +plains of the West were a lawless country, and if its pioneers would not +respect its age-old pastoral customs, then the consequences must be +met or borne. + +Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds were +coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed from the +homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return for a week, +foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and never failing to +levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on cattle, horses, and +needful supplies. As many as five and six herds arrived in a single day, +none of which were allowed to pass without an appeal: if strangers, in +behalf of a hospital; if among friends, the simple facts were +sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with bunches of cattle, or +freighting the caches to the homestead, while Joel received the +different contingents and scouted the threatened range. + +Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell fell +heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a trail +outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, affording each +of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud against the range +lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the Beaver, and Forrest took +particular pains to inform its owners of the whereabouts of unclaimed +range the year before. Evidently the embryo cowmen had taken heed and +inquired into range customs, and were accordingly profuse with +disclaimers of any wrong intent. + +The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of the +Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the trailing of +cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand head having +crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the boys an insight +into pastoral life, brought them in close contact with the men of the +open, drove false ideas from their immature minds, and assisted in the +laying of those early foundations on which their future manhood +must rest. + +Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest slept +with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the best water. +The fact that only experienced men were employed on the trail made the +red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, while the wide +acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad every courtesy of +camp and road. Dell soon learned that the position of point man usually +fell to a veteran of the range, and one whose acquaintance was worthy of +cultivation, both in the saddle and around the camp-fire. + +"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one of their +trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to do, and nearly +always rides with one leg across his horse's neck." + +"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, you'll have +to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in the swing, and +after that you have a right to expect a place on the point. The trouble +is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two at any time. Here I've +been a foreman in other years, and this trip I was glad to make a hand. +There's so many slips, and we can't be all point men and bosses. Cooks +and horse wranglers are also useful men." + +The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared early +during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly healed, and he +was wondering if his employer would make a further claim on his +services during that summer, which was probable at the hands of a drover +with such extensive interests. He and Dell were still patrolling the +ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance from the railroad to the +south drove up to the crossing. It brought a telegram from Don Lovell, +requesting the presence of Forrest in Dodge City, and the messenger, a +liveryman from Buffalo, further assured him that transportation was +awaiting him at that station. There were no grounds on which to refuse +the summons, indefinite and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations +were immediately made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had +been secured during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all +returned to the homestead for the night. + +To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and now +that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was revealed. +As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment when their poverty +had protested at receiving him, his unselfishness in their behalf had +proven his friendship and gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was +not lost on the parentless waifs. + +On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. "Don't +worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and grass +grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've never done +any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out and see if you +lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that I've done any great +feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one of the laws of life, that +often we can do for others what we can't do for ourselves. That sounds +like preaching, but it isn't. Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I +didn't get you double the number of cattle. What we did skirmish +together was merely the flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from +the supper table, and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could +have had just a few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys +being poor and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was +good for a thousand strays and cripples!" + +The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine range. +Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the titles to many +of them were, had been secured and were occupying the valley. A round +dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, but which in time would +round into form, were added to the new ranch. Every passing commissary +had laughed at the chance to discard its plunder and useless staples, +and only the departure of the man behind the venture, standing in the +shadow as it were, threw a depression over the outlook. + +Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with Forrest. The +boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was only with tact and +diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest and embarrassment, was +forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said the departing man, "and it +may come handy with you. There's a long winter ahead, and the fight +ain't near won yet. The first year in starting a ranch is always the +hardest. But if you boys can only hold these cattle until grass comes +again, it's the making of you. You know the boy is father to the man, +and if you are true-blue seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to +the stock." + +Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the railroad +was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a hand, shaking +it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the general advice. "I'll +make Dodge in two days," said the departing guest, "and then I'll know +the meaning of this wire. It means something--that's sure. In the mean +time, sit square in your saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run +riot that you are cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. +That's all until you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. +Adios, señors." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + + +An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few herds +were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate to plead, +all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. Forrest had only +taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all fixtures contributed +for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, including the horses of +his employers. The lads were therefore left an abundance of mounts, all +cattle were drifted above the ranch, and plans for the future +considered. + +Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our saddle +horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after Forrest's +departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will make fodder, but +that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and I know where I can mow +a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have to stable a saddle horse +apiece this winter, and those mules will have to be fed. The grass has +greened up since the rain, and it will be no trick at all to make ten +to fifteen tons of hay. Help me grind the scythe, and we'll put in every +spare hour haying. While you ride around the cattle every morning, I +can mow." + +A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming West, +their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive methods prevailed +on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use a scythe in his haying +operations. Joel swung the blade like a veteran, scattering his swath to +cure in the sun, and with whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. +The raking into windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for +the brothers, no day passing but the cured store was added to, until +sufficient was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried +their mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals. + +"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said Dell, +on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five tons in it. +And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when I've worked so hard +and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan despises any work he can't do on +horseback. But just the same, they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. +Quince could live with us always. He's surely a good forager." + +The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two strangers rode +up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They were made welcome, +and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, in search of pasturage +for a herd of through cattle. There was an open frankness about the +wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of wrong intent, and the +brothers met their inquiries with equal candor. + +"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in kindly +greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the trail +crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless the market +improves, we must secure range for three thousand two-year-old steers. +Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow." + +The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new occupation. +The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the innate kindness of +the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As the evening wore on, +the old sense of dependence brought the lads in closer touch with the +strangers, the conversation running over the mutual field of range and +cattle matters. + +"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are leaving +your State for the upper country?" + +"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. "It's +the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests of our +State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, Texas +clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was limited, the +State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were congesting on our +ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. The subjection of the +Indian was followed by a sudden development of the West, the Texas and +Montana cattle trail opened, and the pastoral resources of our State +surprised the world. Last year we sent eight hundred thousand cattle +over the trail, and they were not missed at home. That's the reason I'm +your guest to-night; range has suddenly become valuable in Texas." + +"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of cattle," +added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding ground, but we +can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty years' experience has +proven that a northern climate is necessary to fatten and bring our +Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two winters in the North will insure a +gain of from three to four hundred pounds' extra weight more per head +than if allowed to reach maturity on their native heath. This gain +fully doubles the value of every hoof, and is a further motive why we +are your guests to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which +to mature our steer cattle." + +The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an asset of +value. Less than two months before, they were on the point of abandoning +their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining life, the stone which +the builders rejected, and now it promised a firm foundation to their +future hopes. The threatened encroachment of a few weeks previous, and +the causes of demand, as explained by their guests, threw a new light on +range values and made the boys doubly cautious. Was there a possible +tide in the primitive range, which taken at its flood would lead these +waifs to fortune? + +The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper valley of +the Beaver. + +"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be understood that +we respect your rights to this range. If we can reach some mutual +agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, but not by any form of +intrusion. We might pool our interests for a period of years, and the +rental would give you lads a good schooling. There are many advantages +that might accrue by pooling our cattle. At least, there is no harm in +looking over the range." + +"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. "None of +our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from there I can +nearly point out the limits of our ranch." + +"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, "but +only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with Mr. +Quince Forrest, now at Dodge." + +"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No one must +take any advantage of you boys." + +The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead the +different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel resumed his +mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses coming down the dim +road which his father used in going to Culbertson. A wagon followed, and +from its general outlines the boy recognized it to be a cow outfit, +heading for their improvements. Hastening homeward, he found Paul +Priest, the gray-haired foreman, who had passed northward nearly two +months before, sitting under the sunshade before the tent. + +"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!" + +No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys had +been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest filled every +want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't bother about getting +any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the creek, and we'll have a +little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in Dodge; old man Don told me he +needed him. Where's your brother?" + +"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted Joel. +"They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement reached must be +made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, you will do just as +well. They'll be in soon." + +"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired foreman. "I'm +jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm a silent partner +in this ranch. How many cattle have you?" + +"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves." + +"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The lazy +wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!" + +"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell and +myself." + +"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a rustler I +am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the wrangler and issue +directions in regard to camping. + +The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse between +Priest and his protégé. For the time being a soldier's introduction +sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came in for a rough caress. "What +do you think of the range?" inquired the trail foreman, turning to the +men, and going direct to the subject. + +"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder cowman, +"and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer." + +"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a jerk of +his thumb toward Priest. + +"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. "My name +is Allen, and this is my son Hugh." + +"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don Lovell," +said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the Texans. + +"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the younger +man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our herd." + +"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his pockets +for a telegram. + +"Comanche." + +"And when did you leave Dodge?" + +"Just ten days ago." + +"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, handing the +older man a telegram. + +The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman continued: +"This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, and we delivered +it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North Platte. From there the main +contractor will trail the beef herd up to the Yellowstone. Old man Don +was present at the delivery, and when I got back to Ogalalla with the +oufit, that message was awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to +receive the cattle. They go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little +Missouri. It says three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, +don't it?" + +"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back." + +The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll have to +declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had several good +offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn of events. I had +figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of this range would +give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you on the eldest +attaining his majority. We could have pooled our cattle, and your +interests would have been carried free." + +"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an air of +interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've known some +mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the owl in their old +McGuffy spelling-book." + +A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a welcome +call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook has orders to +tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner." + +A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," said the +elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company to the +railroad." + +"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. "We're +making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we reach Dodge." + +"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the genial +Texan. + +"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have lived +around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that you simply +can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is the hour for +starting, and I'll overtake you before evening." + +The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having been +excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine condition, +four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the hour named, the +cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. "Angle across the plain +and enter the trail on the divide, between here and the Prairie Dog," +suggested Priest to his men. "We will want to touch here coming back, +and the wagon track will point the way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo." + +Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and means +committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, once the +sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts spirit and courage +into the firing line like knowing that the reserves are strong. It's +going to be no easy task to hold these cattle this winter, and now is +the time to bring up the ammunition and provision the camp. The army +can't march unless the mules are in condition, and you must be well +mounted to handle cattle. Ample provision for your saddle stock is the +first requirement." + +"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll have two +hundred shocks of fodder." + +"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for your +saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, cavalry is +useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers along its line, +coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll make inquiry +to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred bushels of corn +would make the forage reserves ample for the winter." + +"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't want to +take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy." + +"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now comes the +question of corrals and branding." + +"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping at +conclusions. + +"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a blizzard +struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty miles during a +night. These through Texas cattle have been known to drift five hundred +miles during the first winter. You must guard against a winter drift, +and the only way is to hold your cattle under herd. If you boys let +these cattle out of your hand, away from your control, they'll drift +south to the Indian reservations and be lost. You must hold them in +spite of storms, and you will need a big, roomy inclosure in which to +corral the herd at night." + +"There's the corn field," suggested Dell. + +"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect against +the north and west winds." + +"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a perfect +horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the north and +northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose five acres. Our +cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above the house." + +"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising. + +"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle of the +creek," promptly replied Joel. + +"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll have +time to look it over before leaving." + +While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel certain +alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of the addition +of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the necessary posts and +timber before my return, and when we pass north, my outfit will build +you a chute and brand your cattle the same day. Have the materials on +the ground, and I'll bring any needful hardware from the railroad." + +A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The sand-bar was +overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on horseback, but the +leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount through the tangle until +the bend was circled. "It's an ideal winter shelter," said Priest, +dismounting to step the entrance, as a preliminary measurement. "A +hundred and ten yards," he announced, a few minutes later, "coon-skin +measurement. You'll need twenty heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll +bring you a roll of wire. That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills +easily. Given a dry bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd +can laugh at any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing +niggardly about its proportions." + +"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the trio rode +homeward. + +"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw winter's +over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian summer. It might be +as late as the first of December, but it's a good idea to loose-herd +awhile; ride around them evening and morning, corral them and leave the +gates open, teach them to seek a dry, cosy bed, at least a month before +putting the cattle under close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, +and then they'll want to come home. You boys will just about have to +live with your little herd this winter." + +"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we can do it +again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can weather them." + +"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog case; +it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. Lost during +one storm, and your herd is lost for good." + +"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. "Mr. Quince +thought two stabled ones would do the winter herding." + +"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," replied the +cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you spare them. If you +must, miss your own dinner, but see that your horse gets his. Dismount +and strip the bridle off at every chance, and if you guard against +getting caught out in storms, one horse apiece is all you need." + +On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse in +waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit his +visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading his horse +from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and lend a hand in +shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have a herd of his own, +and in that case, there will be two outfits of men. More than likely, +we'll come through together." + +Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around as if +time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary is +provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a winter's +siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute is half +done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. Honest Injun, +I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you out; just to see what +kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if any one else offers to buy +an interest in this range," he called back, as a happy afterthought, +"just tell them that you have all the partners you need." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + + +The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a firing line +of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit and courage of +orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming winter. The elements +have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a conqueror, and an +invincible army has trailed its banners in the snow, unable to cope with +the rigors of the frost king. The lads bent anew to their tasks with a +cheerfulness which made work mere play, sweetening their frugal fare, +and bringing restful sleep. The tie which began in a mercenary agreement +had seemingly broken its bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human +love, a new covenant had been adopted. + +"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next morning, +"holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds them now +without herding." + +[Illustration: JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY] + +"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst possible +winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way to overcome +one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means by bringing up +the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to withstand a +winter siege." + +"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell. + +"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding around the +cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in Hackberry Grove. +Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut them while you're hauling +wood. Remember we must have the materials on the ground when Mr. Paul +returns, to build a corral and branding chute." + +Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. Within a +week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the further supply +of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily noted in its +advancing growth. + +Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was levied on, a +change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt a new impetus by +making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The fuel supply grew, not +to meet a winter's, but a year's requirements. Where strength was +essential, only the best of timber was chosen, and well within the time +limit the materials for corral and branding chute were at hand on the +ground. One task met and mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier. + +"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as the +last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew the plans, +we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, and it won't do +to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar rises in the stock. We +can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul returns." + +Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range to-day," he +announced the following morning. "From here to the ford doesn't matter, +but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We must learn the +location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever cuts us off from the +corrals, we must point the herd for some other port." + +"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell. + +"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through the +sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of dunes." + +That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at the new +ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away with the +rising sun, riding among and counting the different bunches of cattle +encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no details of the +conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up the creek, escape +their vigilance. + +The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed on their +chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the forks of the +Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south branch of the creek +was traced to its source among the sand dunes. If not inviting, the +section proved interesting, with its scraggy plum brush, its unnumbered +hills, and its many depressions, scalloped out of the sandy soil by the +action of winds. Coveys of wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken +took wing on every hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf +arose from a sunny siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed +the air in search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined +in their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and like a +flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother and whelps +skulked and were lost to sight in an instant. + +"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs appeared. +"The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and are still +following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and if this proves +a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our cattle before spring. We +may have more than storms to fight. There they go." + +"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither dog nor +gun." + +"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not bother +us while they can get food elsewhere." + +The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter refuge +to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for a short +gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once the open of +the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the brothers made a +wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite the homestead, near +the middle of the afternoon, they turned and rode directly for the +ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted them. + +Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance revealed +both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up to the stable +corral, in the rough reception which followed, the lads were fairly +dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. "Well, here we are +again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said Priest, once order +was restored. + +"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel. + +"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. About this +time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open with two herds, +each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. I'm coming with some +style this time. You simply can't keep a good man down." + +"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef ranch," +explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and came through +a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have the chute and +corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll lack is the +hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during the afternoon." + +The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the day. Every +old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by twilight the +outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The stable corral was +built out of heavy poles and posts, with a capacity of holding near one +hundred cattle, and by a very slight alteration it could be enlarged, +with branding conveniences added. + +At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys regarding +the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked the matter over +between themselves, and had decided that the simple truth concerning the +facts was the only course to adopt. The older of the two men, by the +consent of years, was delegated to instruct the lads, and when the +question of brands to be adopted by the new ranch was under +consideration, the chance presented itself. + +"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the boys, as +they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have to use two +brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by bill-of-sale. +In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is simply impossible to +keep strays out of moving herds. They come in at night, steal in while a +herd is passing through thickets, while it is watering, and they may not +be noticed for a month. Under all range customs, strays are recognized +as flotsam. Title is impossible, and the best claim is due to the range +that gives them sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the +increase of strays to the range on which they are found, and that will +entitle you to all calves born of stray mothers." + +The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For fear of +winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will run all these +strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be known as the +'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us an asylum for that +branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and owners of the range, all +increase will fall to Wells Brothers. However, in accepting this +deputyship, you do so with the understanding that the brand is merely a +tally-mark, and that in no way does it deprive the owner of coming +forward to prove and take possession of his property. This method +affords a refuge to all strays in your possession, and absolves you from +any evil intent. All other cattle coming under your control, with the +knowledge and consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee +simple, and we will run them into any brand you wish to adopt." + +"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating. + +"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. "The +weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way their +ancestors went. One generation exempts you." + +The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not mentioned +until the following morning. The forces were divided between the tasks, +and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the site of the new corral, +the disclosure was made known. + +"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. "Wolves +act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. Their activity +or presence will warn you of the approach of blizzards, and you want to +take the hint and keep your weather eye open. When other food becomes +scarce, they run in packs and will kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, +as yours will be either under herd or in a corral. Wolves always single +out an animal to attack; they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken +advantage of in their hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly +loves kidney suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, +they can be lured to their own destruction." + +The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. It +was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to a strong +post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together with stays, +admitting of a pliability which served a double purpose. By sinking an +extra post opposite each of the main ones, the flexibility of the gate +also admitted of making a perfect wing, aiding in the entrance or exit +of a herd. In fastening the gate in the centre short ropes were used, +and the wire web drawn taut to the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys +will find this short wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," +assured the old foreman. + +The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. Forrest +took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme upper limits of +the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and turned homeward. The +cattle ranged within a mile or two on either side of the creek, and by +slowly closing in and drifting down the Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch +was brought into a compact herd. There was no hurry, as ample time must +be allowed for the arrival of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in +finishing and making ready the upper corral for its first reception of +cattle. There was a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, +as a surprise for the boys. + +As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch hours in +advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by Priest, and +fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of ropes attached to +the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to the scene of its use at +an easy canter. The stretching of the wire was less than an hour's work, +the slack being taken up by the wranglers, ever upholding Texas +methods, from the pommels of saddles, while Priest clinched the strands +with staples at the proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable +extension of the fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. +"Now, when the stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in +place with staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," +said one of the wranglers admiringly. + +It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after counting +the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel to graze the +herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a mile above, and +taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The trail herds had +purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the Beaver that night, and +were met by their respective foremen while watering for the day. In +receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of one-aged cattle, both foremen, +but more particularly Forrest, in the extra time at his command, had +levied on the flotsam of the herds from which his employer was buying, +until he had accumulated over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, +among a few friends and the few herds with which he came in contact, +scarcely half that number, and still the two contingents made a very +material increase to the new ranch. + +The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. Joel and +Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch stock, and +Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and late contingents as +the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of the boys on the point, +as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it was suddenly confronted by +another contingent, rounding a bend of the creek from the opposite +quarter. Priest had purposely detailed strange men, coached to the point +of blindness, in charge of the new addition, and when the two bunches +threatened to mix, every horseman present except the boys seemed blind +to the situation. + +Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," said +Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own boys to +point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches of cattle +mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!" + +"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," protested +Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and their cattle +walked into ours. Where were you?" + +"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his down on +the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot what we were +doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them now. We'll pen +them until morning." + +The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the strange men +assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the situation to the +crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the gray-haired foreman managed to +drop a word which lightened Dell's depression and cleared up the +supposed error. + +That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped together, +the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the outfits mingled +around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, old songs were sung, +the lusty chorus of which easily reached the night-herders, and was +answered back like a distant refrain. + +The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a wasted step. +Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the foremen and the +boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task before them. The chute +had been ironed and bolted the evening previous, and long before the +early rays of the sun flooded the valley of the Beaver, the first +contingent of cattle arrived from the upper corral. + +The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten grown +cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars fore and +aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail foremen, was quickly +over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen bunches, and before the +noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed under the running irons and +bore the new owner's brand or tally-mark. + +Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the limit of +travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing the railroad a +few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was the railroad depot for +settlers' supplies, and the boys were advised to file their order for +corn, and to advance a liberal payment to insure attention. All details +of the ranch seemed well in hand, the cattle were in good condition to +withstand a winter, and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from +age to youth, the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern +for the future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if +the reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible? + +The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On reaching a +divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse of the Beaver, +the cavalcade halted for a parting look. + +"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the hazy +valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the winter." + +"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as decisive as if +his own flesh and blood had been insulted. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + + +The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the +plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all +bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of +the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from +pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted +of the wormwood in advance of their years. Toys such as other lads +played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and +only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the +struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them. A happy +home they had never known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy +of remembrance was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the +mire of their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss +was realized. + +Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully discussed +the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive to +watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the boys to +battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, and on the +departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of the matter +at issue. + +"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, watching the +receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us several miles out +and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it will be my fault if +it does." + +Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified his gaze +at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful sufferings flashed +through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to tears, dimmed his eyes. He +had learned the lesson that poverty teaches, unaware that the storm +which rocks also roots the oak, but unable to make the comparison or +draw the inference between surrounding nature and himself. For an +instant the horsemen dipped from view, changing the scene, and a picture +rose up, a vision of the future, of independence, of a day when he would +take his place as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its +bridges burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if +encouraged by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley +of the Beaver. + +"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously answering +his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last divide. "Hold +them. I can hold them alone." + +"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his brother +into the tent. "We have provisions for a year." + +"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost hissing the +words--words which became a slogan afterward. + +The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition mixed +and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with its +abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first four +horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at least for the +present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen horses, fully half of +which were fit for saddle, were at the service of the ranch, ample in +number in proportion to the cattle secured. + +It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over two +months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. With no +work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling farther to the west +and south, until any country liable to catch a winter drift became +familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of every drover had ceased, +and the active trail of a month before had been deserted. The new ranch +had no neighbors, the nearest habitation was on the railroad to the +south, and the utter loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active +work. To those who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in +their daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal by +flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, the +cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman. + +The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a welcome +task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance to the saddle +horses, an important feature in withstanding the coming winter siege. An +ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry weather curing the buffalo grass +on the divides, until it was the equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle +of ample grazing until spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl +of snow, a single angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid +Indian summer. Its coming warned the lads; the order for corn was +placed; once a week the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the +ranch was made snug against the wintry months. + +The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree to +deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and an equal +number of round trips would be required to freight the grain from the +railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and sacked at elevator +points, eastward in the State, and in encouraging emigration the +railroad was glad to supply the grain at cost and freightage. + +The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a deposit, and +identification was necessary with the agent. On the very first trip to +Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a surprise awaited the earnest +boy. As if he were a citizen of the hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, +Paul Priest greeted Joel on his arrival. The old foreman had secretly +left a horse with the railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail +crossed, had kept in touch with the delivery of corn at stations +westward, and had timed his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit +to his protégées. + +"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or accident," +said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get damaged, slippery +ground might prevent the placing of a battery at an opportune moment, +or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a courier with an important +order. I feel an interest in your little ranch, and when I know that +everything is done that can be done to fortify against the coming +winter, I'll go home feeling better. There is such a thing as killing +the spirit of a soldier, and if I were to let you boys try and fail, it +would affect your courage to face the future. That's the reason I've +dropped off to take a last look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got +to hold those cattle." + +"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, we're +going to hold the herd," simply said the boy. + +There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad that +pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters on the +range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the worst. But +come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the best fight in us, +and fail, then we are blameless. But with my experience, if I let you +fail, when you might have won, then I have done you an injury." + +That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline on which +their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of no shirking on +the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to a change of clean +saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully understood. The death of +a horse in which reliance rested, at an unfortunate moment, might mean +the loss of the herd, and a clean, warm blanket on a cold day was the +merciful forethought of a man for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen +blanket must be used on the Wells ranch. + +On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was necessary, +at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of its terrors by +the presence of a veteran of the open. Before leaving the depot, Priest +unearthed a number of bundles, "little things that might come in handy," +among which was a sack of salt and two empty oak barrels. The latter +provoked an inquiry from Joel, and an explanation was forced at +the moment. + +"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, and which +was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the boy's query +with a question. + +"A mottled beef, branded 7L?" + +"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding him?" + +"Dell and I thought it was an oversight." + +"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these barrels, +then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has undergone several +Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the governor's cellar won't +have any better corn beef this winter than the Wells ranch. Seven or +eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is an important item in the winter +intrenchments. In fact, it's an asset to any cow camp. There are so many +little things that may come in handy." + +The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a course +that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He had never +been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with a loaded wagon, +he angled away for the sand hills which formed the divide, sloping away +to the branches of the main creek. Noon found him on the south fork; +cattle were encountered near the juncture, and as he approached the +grove, a horseman rode out as if to dispute the passage of an intruder. +The old foreman noticed the boyish figure and delayed the meeting, +reining in to critically examine cattle which he had branded some three +months before. With diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the +wayfarer riding away on a tangent and veering back on his general +course, until Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted. + +"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have made +coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was spending the day +among the cattle." + +"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted Priest; +"that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does that 7L +steer range?" + +"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied the boy, +repeating and answering the question. + +"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman. + +The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour had +brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was overlooked on +the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and the hairy, shaggy, +winter coats of the cattle almost hid the brands, while three to six +months' rest on a perfect range was reflected in the splendid condition +of the general herd. + +"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't worry us," +said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand any +ordinary winter." + +"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range below the +ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. There's the +mottled steer." + +They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said he, +"that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. The adage +is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of intrenchment are +encouraging." + +The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the arrival +of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between the brothers, +the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, there were +sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy felting, flannels over +and under, as if the boys were being outfitted for a polar expedition. +"It may all come in handy," said a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on +sentinel duty ought to be made comfortable. In holding cattle this +winter, it's part of the intrenchments." + +A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel was +away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while those +left behind busied themselves in strengthening the commissary. The +barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding water, knives were +ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling out meat. Dell, on the +tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, wondering how this quiet man +would accomplish his ends, and unable to wholly restrain his curiosity. + +"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably marry young, +and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know how to cure corn +beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the lesson is yours. Watch +me closely." + +The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of the +afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of cattle, +including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down to the +desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to alertness, and when +the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy instinctively knew that a +moment of action was at hand. Without in the least alarming the other +cattle, the cast was made, the loop opened in mid-air, settled around +the horns, cut fast by a jerk of the rope, and the contest between man +and animal began. It was over in a moment. The shade of a willow was the +chosen spot, and as the cattle were freed, the steer turned, the +horseman taking one side of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping +several turns of the rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant +the big fellow quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and +the beef fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in +the shade of the willow. And it was so easily done. + +"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired Texan, +dismounting. "You may bring the knives." + +Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark the beef +was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to drain and +cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of animal heat passed +away, and before sunrise the meat was salted into barrels. Thereafter, +or until it was drained of every animal impurity, the beef was spread on +the platform nightly, the brine boiled and skimmed, until a perfect +pickle was secured. It was a matter of a week's concern, adding to the +commissary two barrels of prime corned beef, an item of no small value +in the line of sustenance. + +The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see what made +the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next morning; "it won't +open for me." + +Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a kite, or +the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval noose, "the same +principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The oval must have a heavy +side, which you get by letting the Hondo run almost halfway round the +loop, or double on one side. Then when you make your cast, the light +side will follow the heavy, and your loop will open. In other words, +what the feather is to the arrow, the light side is to the heavy, and if +you throw with force, the loop must open." + +It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to be a +fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which followed, in the +saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of practicing with a rope, +while the patient man called attention to several wrist movements which +lent assistance in forming a perfect loop. The slightest success was +repeated to perfection; unceasing devotion to a task masters it, and +before the visit ended, the perfect oval poised in the air and the rope +seemingly obeyed the hand of Dell Wells. + +"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle business," +said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. Keep them up +your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own personal use. +These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. When I make up an +outfit for the trail, I never insist on any special attainments. Just so +he's good natured, and no danger of a rainy night dampening the twinkle +in his eye, that's the boy for me. Then if he can think a little, act +quick, clear, and to the point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a +cow in a month." + +In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of annoyance +from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of suet in the +beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, and a full gallon +of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its needs. While Joel was +away after the last load of corn, several dozen wooden holders were +prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk to the depth of five or six +inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, and the troughs charred and +smoked of every trace of human scent. + +That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind that +a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your cunning +against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're dealing with a +crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, surrounding the bait, +every trace of human scent must be avoided. For that reason, you must +handle the holder with a spear or hay fork, and if you have occasion to +dismount, to refill a trough, carry a board to alight on, remembering to +lower and take it up by rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent +of a horse arouses no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it +allays distrust." + +In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned suet. +"After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, illustrating the +process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. An overdose acts as an +emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that reason, you must pack the tallow +in the auger hole, filling from a half to two thirds full. Force Mr. +Wolf to lick it out, administer the poison slowly, and you are sure of +his scalp. You will notice I have bored the hole in solid wood, to +prevent gnawing, and you must pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, +as a crafty wolf will roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. +Keep your holders out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the +loading tools before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves +that may molest your cattle." + +The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. After +the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed every +possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be foreseen, the +only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and barring the burning of +the range from unseen sources, the new ranch stood prepared to withstand +a winter siege. Everything to forefend against a day of stress or trial +had been done, even to instilling courage into youthful hearts. + +"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the practical +man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an unexpected storm. If +a change of weather threatens, point your herd to meet it, and then if +you are caught out, you will have the storm in your back to drift the +cattle home. Shepherds practice that rule, and the same applies to +cattle under herd." + +All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back the +extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession of the +boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final summary of +the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the table, the trail +foreman seemingly reluctant to leave. + +"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying with his +coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping in the winter. +But the next few months you boys must reverse that rule. Not that you +need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your vigilance should never +sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the first and last thought of +the day, and then I'll get my beauty sleep this winter. The unforeseen +may happen; but I want you to remember that when storms howl the +loudest, your Mr. Quince and I will be right around the bend of the +creek, with our ear to the ground, the reserves, listening to the good +fight you boys are making. Of course you could call the reserves, but +you want the glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than show +the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the summer." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + + +The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the harbingers +of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the forthcoming siege. +Great flights of song and game birds, in their migration southward, lent +an accent as they twittered by or honked in mid-air, while scurrying +clouds and squally weather bore witness of approaching winter. + +The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was freed +for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three best +horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from the +railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal freedom must +be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term _close_ herding would +imply grazing the cattle on a section of land, while _loose_ herding +would mean four or five times that acreage. New routes must be taken +daily; the weather would govern the compactness and course of the herd, +while a radius of five miles from the corral was a liberal range. + +The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. Cold was +to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry atmosphere, +there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually the forerunner +of a storm, the approach of which gave little warning, requiring a +sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken unaware or at a disadvantage. + +The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry bed, +and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary to enter +and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, it was a +matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing the herd to +spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as occasion required. In +handling, it was a decided advantage that the little nucleus had known +herd restraint, in trailing overland from Texas, and were obedient, at a +distance of fifty yards, to the slightest whistle or pressure of a +herdsman. Under favorable conditions, the cattle could be depended on to +graze until noon, when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle +homeward was timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The +duties of each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of +the old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task. + +"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said Dell, as +they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. "My horse +never wet a hair to-day." + +"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The first +of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow is only +the beginning of December." + +"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas." + +"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle this +winter. Sit straight in your saddle." + +A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early and +late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each day was +taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it was a daily +occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral and see that all +was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on the part of the boys, +either by whistling or singing, was always given the cattle, and the +customary grunting of the herd answered for its own contentment. A +parting look was given the horses, their forage replenished, and every +comfort looked after to the satisfaction of their masters. By nature, +horses are distant and slow of any expression of friendship; but an +occasional lump of sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present +ration of grain, readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where +they nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders. + +The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the latter to a +prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's favorite, was a +veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under the saddle, restless, +with a knowledge of his work that bordered on the human. Dell favored +Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best point was a perfect rein, and +from experience in roping could halt from any gait on the space of a +blanket. The relay horse was named Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, +Spanish marked in a black stripe down his back, whose limbs were +triple-ringed above the knees, or where the body color merged with the +black of his legs. Their names had followed them from the trail, one of +which was due to color marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's +chestnut was easily traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering +into toes. + +The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was preceded by +an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south wind swept the +range, while at night a halo encircled the moon. + +"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys strolled up to +the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. "There are three +stars inside the circle around the moon. That's one of Granny +Metcalf's signs." + +"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old granny omens +may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold cattle. All +advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle horses and +little sleep." + +The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the bluff bank +which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on the contented +herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie of man and his +beast was accented anew in their youthful hearts. + +"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing down on +the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race in an age so +remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the pyramids of Egypt +were being built, ours was then an ancient occupation. I love to hear +Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!" + +The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to the +westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, each +apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually unerring, and +the boys readily recalled the statement of the old trail foreman, that +the howling of wolves was an omen of a forthcoming storm. + +"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll meet it. +Our course to-morrow will be northwest." + +It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following afternoon, +a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a leaden horizon on +the west and north. The next breeze carried the icy breath of the +northwest, and the cattle turned as a single animal. The alert horsemen +acted on the instant, and began throwing the cattle into a compact herd. +At the time they were fully three miles from the corral, and when less +than halfway home, the storm broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow +accompanied the gale, blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad +held a point of the herd and the raging elements could be depended on to +bring up the rear. + +It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came had been +anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its wrath, dropped +into the valley just above the corral, where the boys doubled on the +outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate turned the wandering herd +into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by the storm, instinctively +followed the leaders, and the gates were closed and roped securely. + +It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. We +corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter drift +means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of to-day's +storm. We must hold nearer the corral." + +The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their horses, safely +reached the stable. A howling night followed; the wind banked the snow +against every obstacle, or filled the depressions, even sifting through +every crack and crevice in the dug-out. The boys and their mounts were +snug within sod walls, the cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, +and the storm wailed its dirges unheeded. + +Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger and +sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily responded +to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, wind-swept of +snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample grazing for the day. +The first storm of the winter had been met, and its one clear lesson +lent a dread to any possible successors. The herd in the grip of a +storm, cut off from the corral, had a new meaning to the embryo cowmen. +The best advice is mere theory until applied, and experience in the +practical things of life is not transferable. + +The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until Christmas +day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that occasion, +expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for the culinary +task, and only requiring his services on corraling the herd at evening. +The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, knew their bed and +water, and on the homeward circle all that was required was to direct +and time the grazing herd. The occasion had been looked forward to, +partly because it was their very own, their first Christmas spread, and +partly on account of some delicacies that their sponsor had forced on +Dell on parting at the railroad, in anticipation of the day. The bounds +of the supper approached a banquet, and the question of appetites to +grace the occasion was settled. + +The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but the +weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on a +northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the time at +which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the sun and dropped +like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds appeared, and before +the herd could be thrown together and started, a hazy, leaden sky shot +up, almost due west, heralding the quarter of the coming storm. The herd +sensed the danger and responded to the efforts of the horsemen; but +before a mile had been covered, it was enveloped in swirling snow and +veering its march with the course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded +the boys as to their direction; they supposed they were pointing the +cattle into the valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on +the onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the corral, +conjecture as to their location became rife. From the moment the storm +struck, both boys had bent every energy to point the herd into the +valley, but when neither slope nor creek was encountered, the fact +asserted itself that they were adrift and at the mercy of the elements. + +"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!" + +"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. "The +creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these leaders into +the valley." + +The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of horses +merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent forged to the +front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. Again and again the +boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of horses, but each effort +was futile, as new leaders stepped into the track of the displaced ones, +and the course of the herd was sullenly maintained. + +The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a crisis +like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing line needed +heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, a rod or two was +the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not trust each other out of +sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet amid all Joel Wells remained +in possession of a stanch heart and an unbewildered mind. "The creek's +to our right," was his battle cry. "Come on; let's turn these lead +cattle once more." + +Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on record, but +at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware that the cattle +were descending a slope--the welcome, southern slope of the Beaver +valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, but the shelter of the +hillside admitted of veering the herd on its course, until the valley +was reached. No knowledge of their location was possible, and all the +brothers could do was to cross to the opposite point, and direct the +herd against the leeward bank of the creek. Every landmark was lost, +with the herd drifting at will. + +The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse neighed, +was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two turned a few rods +aside and halted at their stable door. Even then the boys could scarcely +identify their home quarters, so enveloped was the dug-out in +swirling snow. + +"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no halting +these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the left. Come on; +we must try and hold the herd." + +The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, when the +boys resumed their positions on the point and front. Allowing the cattle +to move, assured a compact herd, as on every attempt to halt or turn it, +the rear forged to the front and furnished new leaders, and in unity lay +a hope of holding the drifting cattle. + +The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. The +banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these meanderings of +the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the sheltering cut-bank that +he hoped to reach, where refuge might be secured against the raging +elements. It lay several miles below the homestead, and if the drifting +herd reached the bend before darkness, there was a fighting chance to +halt the cattle in a protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than +the one in which the corral was built, and if a successful entrance +could only be effected--but that was the point. + +"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during a lull, +"and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd on a direct +angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers to the north, it +will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to shelter the cattle this +side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that entrance, or abandon the herd, +and run the chance of overtaking it." + +"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day we +branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute." + +"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail men." + +"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they don't +know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. Remember that +story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing himself across a +gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump over him? You could do +that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me rush them." + +It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The meanderings of the +creek were not even recognizable, and only an occasional willow could be +identified, indicating the location of the present drift. Occasionally +the storm thickened or lulled, rendering it impossible to measure the +passing time, and the dread of nightfall was intensified. Under such +stress, the human mind becomes intensely alert, and every word of +warning, every line of advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came +back in their hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress +parade, with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of +their own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand waved +lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground. + +A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near the +entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving the cattle +from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the cripples. The tree +grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon trail passed under it, +making it a favorite halting place when freighting in supplies. Dell +remembered its shade, and taking the lead, groped forward in search of +the silent sentinel which stood guard at the gateway of the cove. It was +their one hope, and by zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a +road, the entrance to the nook might be identified. + +The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle sheltered +in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the density of the +herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, southern bred and +unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their heads to the knee, +indicating, with the closing day, a falling temperature. Suddenly, and +as clear as the crack of a rifle, the voice of Dell Wells was heard in +the lead:-- + +"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is won or +lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come quick!" + +The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the day. +Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry wolves at +the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into the eye of the +storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill the drifting herd, +new leaders forged to the front and threatened to carry the drift past +the entrance to the pocket. The critical moment had arrived. +Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell rushed on the volunteer +leaders, batting them over the heads, until they whirled into the +angling column, awakened from their stupor and panic-stricken from the +assault of a boy, who attacked with the ferocity of a fiend, hissing +like an adder or crying in the eerie shrill of a hyena in the same +breath. It worked like a charm! Its secret lay in the mastery of the +human over all things created. Elated by his success, Dell stripped his +coat, and with a harmless weapon in each hand, assaulted every +contingent of new leaders, striking right and left, throwing his weight +against their bodies, and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them +into obedience. + +Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in line, +and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the bend was +reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his stable, and no +sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering nook, than their +voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back through the column for the +first time since the storm struck. Turning to the support of Dell, the +older boy lent his assistance, forcing the angle, until the drag end of +the column had passed into the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and +to Dell's courage, in the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human +is so wondrously constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one +of these brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring of +one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and strength, +and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to the +contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, and by +merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied onrush of three +thousand beeves. + +Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth across +the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an endless +merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, lowing for mates +and cronies, while above howled the elements with unrelenting fury. + +"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for the +night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if we +could start a fire." + +"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some wood," +said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail of the +cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire was soon +crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was found below +the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire threw its shadows +over the nook. + +A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The sentinel beat +was paced in watches between the boys, the width of the gateway being +about two hundred yards. There was no abatement of the storm, and it was +hours before all the cattle bedded down. The welfare of the horses was +the main concern, and the possibility of reaching home before morning +was freely discussed. The instinct of the horses could be relied on to +find the way to their stable, but return would be impossible before +daybreak. The brothers were so elated over holding the cattle that any +personal hardship was endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the +elements was noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse +and rode out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning +announced that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach +home was safe. + +Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to sleep out +the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses were given free +rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid galloping home. The snow +crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted their protest at hindrance, +vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the riders to the marrow, but on +approaching the homestead the reins were shaken out and the horses +dashed up to the stable door. + +"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted. + +"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the star as he +swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our Christmas supper +in October." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GOOD FIGHTING + + +Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had freshened +horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the horses warmed to +the work, and covered the two miles to the bend before the sun even +streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle around the entrance to the +cove, in search of cattle tracks in the snow, and on finding that none +had offered to leave their shelter, joined his brother at the rekindled +fire under the cliff. The cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy +snow underneath having melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the +diversity of colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with +the surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like window +glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, sheening the +furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise inflicting no harm. + +The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the interim of +waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were able to get an +outline on the drift of the day previous. Both agreed that the herd was +fully five miles from the corral when the storm struck, and as it +dropped into the valley near the improvements (added to their present +location), it had drifted fully eight miles in something like +five hours. + +"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he hovered +over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be on the +Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for breakfast. +Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect day, and within +thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all easy to figure out in +advance, but storms don't come by programme. The only way to hold cattle +on these plains in the winter is to put your trust in corn-fed saddle +horses, and do your sleeping in the summer." + +"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell. + +"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days and +never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at night to +figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them up the divide." + +The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the cattle +preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around in bunches +until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent them forth. In +spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the divides and +wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle fell to feeding +so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, and a dinner for boy +and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the valley the snow lay in +drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides and southern slopes, they +were grazed to contentment and entered their own corral at the customary +hour for penning. Old axes had been left at hand, and the first cutting +of ice, to open the water for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an +hour, after which they rode home to a well-earned rest. + +Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as rainbows and +stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each morning, after which +the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a general thaw and warm +winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It was a welcome relief; the +cattle recovered rapidly, the horses proved their mettle, while the boys +came out more than victors. They were inuring rapidly to their new +occupation; every experience was an asset in meeting the next one, +while their general fibre was absorbing strength from the wintry trial +on the immutable plain. + +Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the evening of +the second day, a band of three made its appearance, keeping in the +distance, and following up the herd until it was corraled at the regular +hour. While opening the ice, the boys had turned their horses loose +among the cattle, and on leading them out of the corral, the trio of +prowlers had crept up within a hundred yards. With a yell, the boys +mounted and made a single dash at them, when the wolves turned, and in +their hurried departure fairly threw up a cloud of snow. + +"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, 'running like a +scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old Rowdy. + +"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, throwing +his mount back on his haunches in halting. + +"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll look +for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were beauties! +How I would like to have one of their hides for a foot-rug!" + +"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand hills," +said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger would make +them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all three!" + +Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his mind to +visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The wolves had +located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the boys were aware +of the presence of an enemy. + +A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. No +tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing weather +temporarily released the range from the present wintry grip. A fortnight +of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and frosty nights, ushering +in a general blizzard, which swept the plains from the British +possessions to the Rio Grande, and left death and desolation in its +pathway. Fortunately its harbingers threw its menace far in advance, +affording the brothers ample time to reach the corral, which they did at +a late evening hour. The day had been balmy and warm, the cattle came +in, gorged from a wide circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as +if instinctive of the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even +kicking up their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to +reach headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would +strike or pass away in blustering threats. + +It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a foot had +fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, howling as if +all the demons of night and storm were holding high carnival. Towards +morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, something unknown before, +and awoke the boys, shivering in their blankets. It was near their hour +for rising, and once a roaring fire warmed up the interior of the room, +Joel took a peep without, but closed the door with a shudder. + +"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. "This is +a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I doubt if we can +reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor cattle--" + +The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, well in +advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed the saddle +stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself against the elements +without, he announced himself as ready for the dash. It was less than a +dozen rods between shack and stable, and setting a tallow dip in the +window for a beacon, he threw open the door and sprang out. He possessed +a courage which had heretofore laughed at storms, but within a few +seconds after leaving the room, he burst open the door and fell on +the bed. + +"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a blanket over +my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll come around in a +little while." + +Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than inflamed eyes +and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made to succor the +horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing themselves together with +a long rope, and reached the stable in safety. On returning, Dell was +thrown several times by the buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, +following the rope, the dug-out was safely reached. + +"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once the +shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, lost my +bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes filled +with snow." + +[Illustration: DELL WELLS] + +There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was impossible to +succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach the corral, which +was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of the creek was known, and +by hugging the leeward bank some little protection would be afforded and +the stream would lead to the cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, +there was a noticeable abatement in the swirling snow, when the +horses were blanketed to the limit and an effort made to reach the +corral. By riding bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, +at least allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys +lost their course. + +The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the creek on a +direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or dismounting and +trampling them out until a pathway was made. Several times they were +able to make a short dash between known points, and by hugging the +sheltering bank of the creek, safely reached the corral. The cattle were +slowly milling about, not from any excitement, the exercise being merely +voluntary and affording warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, +the cattle crowding around each opening and drinking to their +contentment. An immense comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the +bend, in places thirty feet high and perpendicular, while in others it +concaved away into recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a +window. It was formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, +while the present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque background +to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of swan's-down. + +The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered the +herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the cattle, given +them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only food was lacking in +the present trial. After rendering every assistance possible, the boys +remained at the corral, hoping the sun would burst forth at evening, +only to meet disappointment, when their horses were given free rein and +carried them home in a short, sure dash. + +A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there was little +or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the cattle were taken +out and given every possible chance. The first noticeable abatement of +the storm was at evening of the third day, followed by a diminishing +fourth, when for the first time the herd was grazed to surfeiting. The +weather gradually faired off, the cattle were recovering their old form, +when a freak of winter occurred. A week from the night the blizzard +swept down from the north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising +thawing weather as a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came +with a heavy snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a +freezing night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and +hill and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice. + +It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The emergency +admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles as do horses +and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must come in the form +of human assistance. Even the horses were helpless, as the snow was too +deep under the sleet, and any attempt to trample out pathways would have +left the winter mounts bleeding and crippled. The emergency demanded +men, but two boys came to the front in a resourceful manner. In their +old home in Ohio, threshing flails were sometimes used, and within an +hour after daybreak Joel Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a +trail through the sleet to the corral. + +The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it with the +cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be broken out. +Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell at the task as if +it had been a threshing floor, and their flails rang out from contact +with the icy sleet. By the time they had reached the divide it was high +noon, and the boys were wearied by the morning task. The crusted snow +lay fully six inches deep on an average, and if sustenance was rendered +the cattle, whose hungry lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy +crust must be broken over the feeding grounds. + +It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few acres," said +Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the cattle. Point them up +the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and come on ahead of the herd. +If we can break out a hundred acres, even, the cattle can nose around +and get down to the grass. It's our one hope." + +The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking out the +shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the feeding +herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. Fortunately +the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary assistance could be +rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would bare the ground on +southern slopes and around broken places, affording ample grazing. The +flails rung until sunset, the sleet was shattered by acres, and the +cattle led home, if not sufficiently grazed, at least with +hunger stayed. + +An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered where +falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the corrals at +an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The cattle were +aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while outside the +inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf tracks. The herd, +already weakened by the severity of the winter, had been held under a +nervous strain for unknown hours, or until its assailants had departed +with the dawn. The pendulum had swung to an evil extreme; the sleet +afforded splendid footing to the wolves and denied the cattle their +daily food. + +"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up the +situation. + +"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a dose of +poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be placed near +running water--those were the orders. We've got five hundred cattle here +to succor first. Open the gates." + +The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The sun +scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were beaten +out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the afternoon +fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to feast to its +heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired out the cattle, and +it was with difficulty that they were prevented from lying down in +preference to grazing. On such occasions, the boys threw aside their +flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused the exhausted animals, +shifting them to better grazing and holding them on their feet. + +"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," said Joel, +as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something must be done. Rest +seems as needful as food. This is worse than any storm yet. Half of them +are lying down already. We must build a bonfire to-night. Wolves are +afraid of a fire." + +Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or having eaten +snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the herd was alarming, +not from want of food, but from the hungry prowlers of the night. Before +leaving, the brothers built a little fire outside the gate, as best they +could from the fuel at hand, expecting to return later and replenish the +wood supply from headquarters. + +The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses were fed +and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry logs, and +from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the corral opening. It +was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, and the light of the +bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy shadows on the combing +snow which formed the upper rim. The night was crimping cold, and at a +late hour the boys replenished the fire and returned home. But as they +dismounted at the stable, the hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down +the valley on the frosty air, and answered by a band far to the south in +the sand hills. + +"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for the +distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a distance +until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in for the night." + +Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, but on +every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the night was to +be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the remainder, +principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, fronting one of +the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On riding within the corral, +the dread of the excited cows proved to be a monster wolf, crouching on +a shelf of snow. He arose on his haunches and faced the horsemen, +revealing his fangs, while his breast was covered with tiny icicles, +caused by the driveling slaver during the night's run. His weight was +responsible for his present plight, he having ventured out on the +fragile comb of snow above, causing it to cave down; and in the +bewilderment of the moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on +which he then rested. + +It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and answers +passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was in hand, the +horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, and yet the boys +were powerless to make the kill. The situation was tantalizing. + +"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the moment. + +"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it." + +"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility. + +"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the risk of +a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't dismount +within twenty feet of him for this herd." + +"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which Mr. Paul +killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof." + +"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf go--we +can't make the kill." + +"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a roping +horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll lasso that +wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre gatepost and you +can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going to rope a wolf from +your back," added Dell, patting the horse's neck and turning back to the +gate. "Show me the mettle of the State that bred you." + +"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. Whatever +happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to a pinch. I'll +get a fence-stay." + +Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently practiced with a +rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and the danger of the +present moment surely admitted of no false calculations. Dell dismounted +with a splendid assurance, tightened the cinches, tied his rope good and +firm to the fork of the saddle tree, mounted, and announced himself as +ready. The cattle were drifted left and right, opening a lane across the +corral, and Dell rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a +position at the gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the +working out of the experiment. + +The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell rode +carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each time, +whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal arose in an +attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment had come, as the +horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, the singing noose shot +out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the next instant Dog-toe +whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a blur behind as he shot +across the corral. Only his rider had seen the noose fall true, the taut +rope bespoke its own burden, and there was no time to shout. For an +instant, Joel held his breath, only catching a swerve in the oncoming +horse, whose rider bore down on the centre post of the double gate, the +deviation of course being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The +horse flashed through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in +air, and a dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The +blur passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death. + +Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a foot's +length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle tree, and thus +saved horse and rider from an ugly fall. + +"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," said +Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do you want +his hide, or can I have it?" + +"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. I'll have +to sit up with you to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOLDING THE FORT + + +The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny slopes, +the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under cover of ice +and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for the time being and +closing over when not in use. + +The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the brothers was to +open more grazing ground, and to that end every energy was bent. The +range already opened lay to the north of the Beaver, and although double +the distance, an effort was made to break out a trail to the divide on +the south. The herd was turned up the lane for the day, and taking their +flails, the boys began an attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as +it was fully two miles to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected +by the sun before high noon. + +The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were brought +forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and assisting in +breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet in width on an +average, and by early noon the divide was reached. Several thousand +acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and depressions running +north and south across the watershed, new grazing grounds could be +added daily. + +A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been brought +along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the divide, the sun +had softened the crust until it would break under the weight of either +of the boys. By walking well outside the trail, the sleet crushed to the +extent of five or six feet, and by leading their horses, the pathway was +easily doubled in width. Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, +easing from the frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of +thawing weather. + +"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly freeze a +shoal, and I've found one below the corral." + +"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, "but we +must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment the cattle quit +drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is regular old +Billy Winter." + +"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the younger boy. +"Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water won't freeze." + +"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for to-night," +said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter for the present. + +On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the splendid +trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known shallow in the +creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, and forcing his +horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a riplet was unearthed +as it purled from under an earthen bank. + +"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins and +allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for yourself." + +Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, after +emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed under +another arch, its motion preventing freezing. + +"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the horses +break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. We'll build +another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits around this +open water." + +The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in home. +Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of the wooden +troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the basins were +handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and dropped from +horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure that the poison would +be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass and a scented trace was made +from every quarter, converging at the open water and tempting baits. + +"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't get a +wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done." + +"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, under the +comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking each other's +bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except poisoned suet." + +The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought in to +the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight of the +cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of wolves was at +once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the lads arrived in +time to save the life of a young steer. The animal had grazed beyond the +limits of the herd, unconscious of the presence of a lurking band of +wolves, until attacked by the hungry pack. Nothing but the energetic use +of his horns saved his life, as he dared not run for fear of being +dragged down, and could only stand and fight. + +The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the steer's +rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter of hoofs, +they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly forsook their +victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by easy count, as they +halted within two hundred yards and lay down, lolling their tongues as +if they expected to return and renew the attack. + +"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as the +brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!" + +"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it impossible to get +food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the cattle hereafter." + +"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said Dell. +"That's not a bad beginning." + +"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month longer, +some of these cattle will feed the wolves." + +There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was turned into +the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a distance, the wolves +followed, peeping over the divide as the herd turned down the pathway +leading to the corral. Fuel had been sledded up, and after attending to +the details of water and fire, the boys hurried home. + +The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of the +morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest change was +noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the blizzard, every +moderation of the temperature brought more snow or sleet. Unless a +general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any change in the weather +was undesirable. + +A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the boys +replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination covered the +limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of the poison for +the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary to the Beaver, +counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. Day was breaking, +the horses were already fed, and he was impatient for saddles and away. + +"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the stable. + +"One," answered Joel. + +"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight." + +"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your estimate. +Leave a few for luck." + +Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the chickens. +Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between house and +corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive brother, +together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed him--not a dead +wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. Some of the troughs +had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the auger holes, while the snow was littered with +wolf tracks. + +"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed the scene +and empty basins. + +Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for the number +of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the tallow. That's it; +there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste in each one's mouth. From +the looks of the ground, there might have been fifty wolves." + +The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The brothers awoke +to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and men the unforeseen +is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay down the general rule, +and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No one could foresee that the +grip of winter would concentrate and bring down on the little herd the +hungry, roving wolf packs. + +"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out more +running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make new ones, +and to-night we'll put out fifty baits." + +The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. Joel +took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows tributary +to the corral. Three more were found within easy distance, when the +troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and taken home to be refilled. +It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning and caution were his helpers; +slighting nothing, ever crafty on the side of safety, he cut, bored, and +charred new basins, to double the original number. After loading, for +fear of any human taint, he dipped the troughs in water and laid them in +the shade to freeze. A second trip with the sled was required to +transport the basins up to the corral, the day's work being barely +finished in time for him to assist in penning the herd. + +"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail. + +"Sixty odd." + +"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all the +afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards of the +cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty." + +"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to do +that until after the cattle were corraled." + +The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which would die +out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the cattle time to bed +down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was not the intention of the +boys to return, and as they mounted their horses to leave, all the +welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst forth. + +"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a gesture +which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and the feast is +ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or do you prefer the +scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, juicy kidney suet in the +ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, with fresh water right at hand. +Now, have pallets and enjoy yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, +and be merry, for to-morrow your pelts are mine." + +"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel. + +"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. "I'll +carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin peddler." + +"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished his +brother. "You're only entitled to one guess." + +"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered Dell with +emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy me." + +A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast was +forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as they +covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of expectation. +Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, on rounding a +curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost unhorsing his rider. + +"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll point them +out and you count. There's another! There's two more!" + +It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead wolves lay +around every open water. Some barely turned from the creek and fell, +others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly wandered away for +short distances. The poison had worked to a nicety; when the victims +were collected, by actual count they numbered twenty-eight. It was a +victory to justify shouting, but the gruesome sight awed the brothers +into silence. Hunger had driven the enemy to their own death, and the +triumph of the moment at least touched one sensitive heart. + +"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued voice, +after surveying the ravages of poison. + +"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're soldiering this +winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What would Mr. Paul say if +we let the wolves kill our cattle?" + +After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, leaving Dell +at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, revealing the fact +that every trace of the poisoned suet had been licked out of the +holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf became the slogan of the +present campaign. No mushy sentiment was admissible--the fighting was +not over, and the powder must be kept dry. The troughs were accordingly +sledded into the corral, where any taint from the cattle would further +disarm suspicion, and left for future use. + +The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a boy. +But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which Forrest, when a +cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of winter-killed cattle +with a team. The same principle applied in pelting a wolf, where by very +little aid of a knife, about the head and legs, a horse could do the +work of a dozen men. The corral fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, +Dog-toe could pull his own weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and +theory, when reduced to the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head +once bared, the carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a +gentle pull from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a +second pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady +mounting and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, +and with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry. + +Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs had +evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as there +was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or attitude. + +"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in Nebraska and +the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in explanation. "Rabbits and +other rodents are at home under this sleet, and what is there to live +on but stock? You have to hold the cattle under the closest possible +herd to avoid attack." + +"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly declared Dell. +"Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the wolves lick the bones of +their brethren to-night, and to-morrow I'll spread another banquet." + +The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall that +night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but every +additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until it appeared +an open question whether they would fall a prey to the wolves or succumb +to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed the local storm, during +which three head of cattle, cripples which had not fully recuperated, in +the daily march to the divides fell in the struggle for sustenance and +fed the wintry scavengers. It was a repetition of the age-old struggle +for existence--the clash between the forces of good and evil, with the +wolf in the ascendant. + +The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one wolves fell +in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, not an eye for +an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out looked like a +trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every trace of sentiment +for the enemy, in the wintry trial which followed, died out in the +hearts of the boys. + +Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves against +the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless vigilance and +sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by fire and poison, +alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle fall to feed the +wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to the struggling boys. + +A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One morning +near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the corral at an +early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a light kill of +wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they were attempting to +make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a wolf, supposed to be +poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, snapping left and right +before falling to the ground. Nothing but the agility of Rowdy saved +himself or rider, who was nearly unhorsed, from being maimed or killed +from the vicious, instant assault. + +The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to the +color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell shook +out his rope. + +"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a mad wolf, +or else it's dying." + +"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on his +flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just that +position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death." + +But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the victim, +and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and revealing +fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the wolf ran +aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck a strand of +wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw the animal flat, +when it again curled its head backward and lay quiet. + +"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it gets into +that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a live horse +under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's neck by a +hand-breadth." + +The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored approach. +Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as the rope +settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope was cautiously +wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, and whirling +Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane leading to the +herd's feeding ground to the south. The first quarter of a mile was an +indistinct blur, out of which a horse might be seen, then a boy, or a +wolf arose on wings and soared for an instant. Suddenly the horse +doubled back over the lane, and as his rider shot past Joel, a fire of +requests was vaguely heard, regarding "a noose that had settled foul," +of "a rope that was being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle +a wolf. + +Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened around the +wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a few effectual +snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. Shaking out a loop +in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the other trail, Rowdy +carried his rider within easy casting distance, the lasso hissed through +the air, settled true, when two cow-horses threw their weight against +each other, and the wolf's neck was broken as easily as a rotten thread. + +"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the safety of +his saddle. + +"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and kicked +the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, it was +thirty feet!" + +In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range cattle +history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal trial in the +lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three days, after the +worst blizzard in the history of the range industry, the siege was +lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her gladness. Sleet cracks ran +for miles, every pool in the creek threw off its icy gorge, and the +plain again smiled within her own limits. Had the brothers been thorough +plainsmen, they could have foretold the coming thaw, as three days +before its harbingers reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of +poison, but instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, +not to return the remainder of the winter. + +"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said Joel to +his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring down a wolf. + +"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost twelve +cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll play that game +all winter." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WINTER DRIFT + + +The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry siege. If it +could be weathered, victory would crown the first good fight of the +boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle and fortifying +against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot with the plains, +the occupation had almost forced itself on them, and having tasted the +spice of battle, they buckled on their armor and rode forth. Without +struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures of life lose their nectar. + +The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had gradually +weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the elements, and +steps must be taken to recuperate the herd. + +"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the thawing +weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. Unless the +wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again." + +Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen to the +creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the herd any +longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle winter-killed! Every +day during the last month I felt that another week of winter would take +half the herd. It was good fighting, and I feel like shouting." + +"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides that +weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them all the +range they need and only put them under close-herd at night. There may +be squally weather yet, but little danger of a general storm. After this +thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin their spring ploughing." + +A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost absolute +freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only thrown together +at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed entirely by day, a mile +square of dry slope was considered compact enough for the night. The +extra horses, which had ranged for the winter around Hackberry Grove, +were seen only occasionally and their condition noted. The winter had +haired them like llamas, the sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse +paws to the grass, and any concern for the outside saddle stock +was needless. + +The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious to +know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his brother +for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire. + +"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted yet. I'm +not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure first." + +"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the younger +boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from them at +Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell them that +we've won the fight. The spring's here." + +"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will keep, and +we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you remember the old +weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion and going out like a +lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had better keep an eye on it +for fear it goes out like a lion. You can go to the railroad in April." + +There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no response +in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and refused to +come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the shrub and +willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs of spring +carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet arise and roar +like a young lion. + +The one advantage of the passing days was the general improvement in the +herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the buffalo grass, which +grew on the slopes and divides, and with three weeks of fair weather and +full freedom the herd as a whole rounded into form, reflecting its +tenacity of life and the able handling of its owners. + +Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, along +the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck near the +middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and found the cattle +scattered to the limits of loose herding, but under the eyes of two +alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the task, circling the herd on +different sides, but before it could be thrown into mobile form and +pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl of soft snow enveloped horses +and riders, cattle and landscape. The herd turned its back to the storm, +and took up the steady, sullen march of a winter drift. Cut off from the +corral by fully five miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and +the brothers rode to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle. + +"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell. + +"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, "nothing short +of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the cattle. We're out until +this storm spends its force." + +"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and the +wolves are gone." + +"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, we'll +miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a question of +horseflesh." + +"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse and +overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the storm." + +"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these cattle +through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a spring squall." + +The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the cattle +turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the compass was +lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm would hold a true +course until its wrath was spent, and relying on that slender thread, +the boys attempted to veer the herd for the sand hills. By nature cattle +are none too gregarious, as only under fear will they flock compactly, +and the danger of splitting the herd into wandering contingents must be +avoided. On the march which lay before it, its compactness must be +maintained, and to turn half the herd into the sand dunes and let the +remainder wander adrift was out of the question. + +"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The cattle +are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be cutting them +to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead unless the swing cattle +will follow. It's better to drift until the storm breaks than to split +the herd into little bunches." + +"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the leaders +ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in line." + +An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly made. +But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut the cattle to +the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, the brothers chose +to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the sand hills. + +"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated efforts. "Turn +the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An hour of this wind +would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or die." + +"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," suggested +Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after a pack horse. +We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn this herd." + +The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily keep in +a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he reported the +drifting column less than a quarter mile in length. + +"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can barely hold +their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas drift, they +fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day they act like +lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet." + +The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for man and +horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver before +nightfall. + +"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut it +quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that Dog-toe +has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, until he +just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind and snow." + +"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one hundred +yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country looks alike. +Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above or below +headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you ought to +recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll take you +straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, some bread and +meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour before daybreak, and +you'll find me in the lead of the herd." + +The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in their +lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar that +sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was always the +hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle would gladly halt +and bed down, which promise lightened the passing time. The work was +easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of the leaders, that the rear +might easily follow, was the task of the night or until relieved. + +On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure in his +ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul weather, he had +barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver when darkness fell. The +horse was easily quartering the storm, but the pelting snow in the boy's +face led him to rein his mount from a true course, with the result that +several miles was ridden without reaching any recognizable landmark. A +ravine or dry wash was finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a +matter of precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and allowed +his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the eye of the +storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason was abandoned +and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the confident boy mounted +his horse and took up his former course, almost crossing the line of +storm on a right angle. A thousand visible forms, creatures of the night +and storm, took shape in the bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after +dismounting and mounting unknown times, he floundered across Beaver +Creek fully three miles below headquarters. + +The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to his +horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and champing the +bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a burning match revealed +the outlines of a road under the soft snow. The horse was given rein +again and took the road like a hound, finally sweeping under a tree, +when another halt was made. It was the hackberry at the mouth of the +cove, its broken twigs bespoke a fire which Dell had built, and yet the +mute witness tree and impatient horse were doubted. And not until +Dog-toe halted at the stable door was the boy convinced of his error. + +"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot more +than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled with me +like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if he'll forgive +me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable door. + +The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you shall +have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if you'll just +forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night will never be +forgotten." + +It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even though +the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its cost. Before +offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles that were to make up +the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm forward an hour, and sought +his blankets for a short rest. Several times the howling of the wind +awoke him, and unable to sleep out the night, he arose and built a fire. +The necessity of a pack saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting +a blanket, at the appointed hour before dawn he started, with three +days' rations for man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw +March wind blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he +reached the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the course +of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the mushy snow. A +bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo wallow; three +others were passed, feeding with the wind, and finally the sun burst +forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie Dog. + +Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, sustenance was +following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened in the snow, narrowed +and broadened, and near the middle of the forenoon the scattered herd +was sighted. The long yell of warning was answered only by a tiny +smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek bed, and before Joel was aware +of his presence, Dell rode up to the very bank under which the fire +was burning. + +"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do snowballs +taste for breakfast?" + +"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope this +is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any romance in it." + +The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of yourself," urged +Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How did you make out during +the night?" + +"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my medicine," +replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I sang. You have no +idea how good company cattle are. One big steer laid his ear in Rowdy's +flank to warm it. I took him by the horn any number of times and woke +him up; he was just staggering along asleep. I talked to all the lead +cattle, named them after boys we knew at school, and sometimes they +would look up when I called to them. And the queerest thing happened! +You remember old Redman, our teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last +night. There was a black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and +every time I looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, +his pug nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen +drift, to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me a +score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's face +and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black steer +dropped back and never came to the lead again." + +"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted by his +own experience. + +"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might get lost, +but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, and the cattle +were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I got my bearings, +Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the drift." + +A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, the +horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on the return. +During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the stragglers, and +towards evening all the cattle were put under loose herd and pointed +north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a comfortable camp was made +under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank +stalks of the wild sunflower made a good substitute for fuel, and night +settled over human and animal in the full enjoyment of every comfort. + +It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of pack +horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an easy berth +on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of the horse's body +girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and the corn and blankets +laid within the pack and all lashed securely. The commissary supplies +being light, saddle pockets and cantle strings were found sufficient for +their transportation. + +The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several miles +the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would require +nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, nothing like a +compact herd or driving was permissible, and the cattle were allowed to +feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed along the flank, the boys +walked as a relief, and near evening or on sighting the dunes, Dell took +the pack horse and rode for their shelter, to locate a night camp. The +herd never swerved from its course, and after sunset Joel rounded the +cattle into compact form and bedded them down for the night. A beacon +fire of plum brush led him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where +supper awaited the brothers. + +"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, "that +the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had to build +fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail men, could +we do it?" + +"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You seem to +forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. Be grateful. +Thank the wolf and go to sleep." + +"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I wish Mr. +Paul could see it." + +"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many rousing +fires." + +Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, the +sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all was quiet. + +"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell at +daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the first time +we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into three good +feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have the whole +hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of this camp, all +worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. So long as we hold +the cattle, who cares for expense." + +The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring day lent +its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the afternoon the +watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope clown to the Beaver +was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks turned in, the rear +pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd found expression in loud +and continued lowing. + +"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being killed," +observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after a pack horse, +these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure that we would lose a +hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof." + +"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I fully +expected to see our back track strung with dead animals." + +The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. Little +wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's experience, +failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, similar to the one +which provoked the observation of the brothers, may explain those placid +depths, the deep tenacity and latent power of the herd. + +After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive freighting +outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred oxen were +employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were encountered, the wagons +were loaded beyond the strength of the teams, and the oxen had arrived +at the fort exhausted, spiritless, and faint to falling under their +yokes. Many oxen had been abandoned as useless within one hundred miles +of the post, thus doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, +these scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the wagon +train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of all the oxen +were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. One day a boy +blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and charged among his +fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to powder! The loose oxen +broke from the herders, tore past the column of wagons, frenzied in +voice and action. The drivers lost control of their teams, bedlam +reigned, and the entire wagon train joined in the general stampede. +Wagons were overturned and reduced to kindling in a moment of the +wildest panic. The drivers were glad to escape with their lives and were +left at the rear. A cloud of dust merely marked the direction which the +oxen had taken. The teams, six to eight yoke each, wrenched their +chains, broke the bows, and joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, +still under yoke, were found the next day fifteen miles distant from the +scene of the incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a +month previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that the +spirit of their teams was killed. + +When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward and given +its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy gradually crept far to +the lead, and as the brothers left the cattle and bore off homeward, the +horse took up a gentle trot, maintaining his lead until the stable +was reached. + +"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. "That +horse knows more than some folks." + +"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his horse's +neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it myself some +day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of myself." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A WELCOME GUEST + + +The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was ushered in +to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the pollen on the +willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed underfoot, and the creek +purled and sang as it hastened along. The cattle played, calves were +born, while the horses, in shedding their winter coats, matted the +saddle blankets and threw off great tufts of hair where they rolled on +the ground. + +The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon returning +far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted Joel, on +coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price for a few +weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. The storekeeper +was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a hundred dollars on the +shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from two to two dollars and a +half. And I have a letter from Forrest. The long winter's over! You can +shout! G'long, mules!" + +During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. "Keep +busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water supply and +plan to acquire more cattle." + +"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams between here +and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, and he'll explain +things when he comes. Once a week will be often enough to ride around +the cattle." + +An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. The +garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired around +the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites for two +other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was ample to fill +large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for use during the dry +summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of the ranch could be +greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around headquarters had withstood +every drouth, owing to the shade of the willows overhead, the roots of +which matted and held the banks intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were +accordingly cut for the new dams and the work begun in earnest. + +"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced Joel. "It +would waste too much time to go and come. When we build the upper one, +we can work from home." + +The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built several +miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the creek, merely to +hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow cuttings were planted +along the borders and around the dams, the ends of which were riprapped +with stone, and a spillway cut to accommodate any overflow +during freshets. + +The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, and the +reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. The unusual +winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the ground, and the +grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, while the garden grew +like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year before had repaid well in +forage, and was again planted. In the face of another drouthy summer, +the brothers sowed as if they fully expected to reap. "Keep busy" was +the slogan of the springtime. + +The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. Nearly +one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the peltry had +commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers swaggered in their +saddles. But still the herds failed to come. + +"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were expecting +company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some of these +evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the lead of his herd. +Let's make out that we're looking for them." + +Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail man +appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of the second +week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen of them on +the trail." + +"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion. + +"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all swim. +Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon across +swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is nothing to +those trail men." + +Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of hail, +Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the two rolled +over and over on the grass. + +"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," explained +Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are my boys. Look +at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two mothers. Boys, shake +hands with Mr. Lovell." + +The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. He was +a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, with an energy +that pulsed in every word and action. There was a careworn expression in +his face, while an intensity of purpose blazed from hungry, deep-set +eyes which swept every detail of the scene at a glance. That he was +worried to the point of exhaustion was evident the moment that +compliments were exchanged. + +"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, if I am +correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from Dodge to the +Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the worst drouths in the +history of the trail confronts us, and if you can water my cattle +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River, you can name your +own price." + +"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the blackboard, +"before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. Lovell the water." + +All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the single +seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek were five +beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows interlapped. The +pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, the quartette turned +homeward, satisfied of the abundant water supply. + +"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest to his +employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of the sun +that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the pools until +the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver." + +"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--" + +"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in this +ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the asking. Am I +right, boys?" + +"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly replied +Joel. + +"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man Joel Wells +that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, these boys of +mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not out to rob a +neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking Water, you can +order the herds to pull out for the Platte." + +"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get the +water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a man his +price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm welcome to it for +nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts. Are +you three plotting against me?" + +"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe all right. +In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact that you have +five horses on this ranch. They were left here last fall, expecting to +pick them up this spring. Two of them were cripples and three were good +cow horses. Now, these boys of mine are just branching out into cattle, +and they don't need money, but a few good horses are better than gold. +That's about the plot. What would you say was the right thing to do?" + +Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But I'm still +in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?" + +The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds reach +here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a number of +tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it through +without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a fighting +chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent in an +abandoned steer for you, but these boys--" + +"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. "I'll give +all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are worthless to me, but +good as gold to these boys. What else?" + +"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, speak a +good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I think you'll +find them on the square." + +"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he alighted at +the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla will not exceed +five thousand dollars. It cost me double that getting out of Texas." + +Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside drouth, +which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the trail as in +other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the concentration of +a year's drive into a more limited space of time. Unconscious of its +value, the boys awoke to the fact that they controlled the only water +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River--sixty miles of the +plain. Many of the herds were under contract and bond to cattle +companies, individuals, army posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse +would be accepted for any failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an +ill-wind to some, but the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could +extend relief. + +After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest had +unearthed the winter struggle of his protégés, and gloating over the +manner in which the boys had met and overcome the unforeseen, he assumed +an observant attitude in addressing his employer. + +"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," said he, +"to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, here on the +Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of over five hundred +cattle. And you must recollect that these were rag-tag and bob-tail, the +flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per cent cripples, walking on +crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, under herd, a sleet over the +range for six weeks, against your ten per cent kill on an open range. +You must have a slatterly, sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch." + +Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle interests. +"That was a first report that you are quoting from," said he to Forrest. +"It was more prophecy than statement. We must make allowances for young +men. There is quite a difference between getting scared and being hurt. +My beef outfit has orders to go three hundred miles south of our range +and cover all round-ups northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift +was heavy, but I'm not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. +Promptly meeting government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are +two weeks behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. +Help me figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel. + +"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night." + +"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of these boys +can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound train. Wire your beef +herds to pull out for the Platte. You can trust the water to improve +from here north." + +"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman. + +"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That will cover +the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, and time our +drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud." + +"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get an +extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my bonds will +amount to a fortune." + +"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The government +don't expect the impossible." + +"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts a bond, +and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks the plank, +it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not how much sleep I +lose, red tape never worries." + +The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. "The +programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the latter. "The +horses will be ready at daybreak." + +It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part of the +brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the drover, and +a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every way. + +"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," said +Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman in a +thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's rather +deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him about the men +on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter kill when they +could drift, and the round-up will catch every living hoof. He was too +foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this long yell about the drouth +interfering with delivery dates keeps the trail outfits against the +bits. Admitting his figures, the water expense won't be a drop in the +bucket. It affords good worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting +form. I'm glad he came along; treat him fair and square, and his +friendship means something to you, boys." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN ILL WIND + + +The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the morning. Joel +accompanied the drover, the two best horses being under saddle, easily +capable of a road gait that would reach the railroad during the early +forenoon. The direct course lay across country, and once the sun flooded +the Beaver valley, the cowman swung around in the saddle and his +practical eye swept the range. On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken +country beyond, including the sand hills, he turned to his guide. + +"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future before you. +This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our horses' feet +carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have the range here for +thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy young steers; pay any +price; but get more cattle. The growth of young steers justifies any +outlay. Come down to Dodge about the first of August. This drouth is +liable to throw some bargains on that market. Be sure and come. I'll +keep an eye open in your interest on any cattle for sale." + +The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were not +entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of the +brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the team stood +in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of sight to the south +the buckboard started on its northern errand. Dell accompanied it, +protesting against his absence from home, but Forrest brushed aside +every objection. + +"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we may be +back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. Turn your +ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't halfway through our +figuring." + +Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the north, the +same day that Forrest and his employer started up the trail from the +south, and at the expected point the two foremen met. The report showed +water in abundance from the Republican River northward, confirming +Forrest's assertion to his employer, and completing the chain of waters +between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest returned with the buckboard, which +reached the Beaver after midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep. + +"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of Joel's bunk, +"that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good fighting. Yes, I +heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I was with you the night +you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all along the line, wasn't it +good fighting?" + +"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets. + +"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of the March +drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't trust poor old +Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down the creek here a few +miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the horse forgot more than he +himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. As long as a man hearkens to +his horse, there is no danger of bad counsel being thrust on him." + +The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the exacting +nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, and while +harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention to setting the +ranch in order to water the passing herds. + +"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas fever +among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd until +after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry Grove, and keep +a dead-line fully three miles wide between the wintered and through +trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, cripples or strays, hold +them down the creek--between here and the old trail crossing. For fear +of losing them you can't even keep milk cows around the ranch, so turn +out your calves. Don't ask me to explain Texas fever. It's one of the +mysteries of the trail. The very cattle that impart it after a winter in +the north catch the fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a +mild form, in through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or +northern wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The +sure, safe course is to fear and avoid it." + +The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in charge of +Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had ridden to the +Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a moment at parting. + +"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing ten +days to reach here--" + +He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, come out on +the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you will see a dust +cloud in the south. The long distance between waters will put the herd +through on schedule time. Come out and meet me." + +The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were over. The +herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised relief to the +drover and his cattle. + +"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is from one to +three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped from sight. "The +government, so he says, allows three cents for watering cavalry horses +and harness mules. He tells me that the new settlers, in control of the +water on the trail, in northern Texas, fairly robbed the drovers this +year. The pastoral Texan, he contends, shared his canteen with the +wayfarer, and never refused to water cattle. He wants us to pattern +after the Texans--to give our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell +raised the question of arranging to water his herds from our beaver +ponds, do you remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad +money wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses." + +"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said Joel, +"but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He says we +must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in August, and +I'm going." + +Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. "Any +one tell your fortune lately?" + +"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. One of +those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand here and +you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range had a value, +and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, and stock it. What +he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. Lovell sees now, you may +see a year hence. These men have proved their friendship, and why stand +in our own light? Our ability to hold cattle was tested last winter, and +if this range is an asset, there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm +going to Dodge in August." + +Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in order. +Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling in to +headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on the +general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to the +Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that the cattle +might reach the former river the following evening. The brothers knew to +a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the trailing pace, and could +anticipate to an hour the time required to move a herd from the Prairie +Dog to the Beaver. + +The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. The +dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between imaginary +landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a sentinel, stood a +lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt thou go and no +farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of condition, were brought +home and located below the ranch, and the house stood in order. + +The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach the +divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the Beaver, the +leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty cattle that had +scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the heavy beeves +identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point man, the +situation cleared. + +"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?" + +"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next swell +of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on. + +It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd snailed +forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety of color, +the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral picture of +strength and beauty. + +The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the opposite +side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, and while the +two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing lad on the left +reined out and saluted the boys. + +With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember the day +we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?" + +"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man across the +herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty greeting. + +"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the lad who +rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking hands. Turn your +horses the other way and tell me how you like it out West." + +Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves was fully +a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, the wagon and +remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman still at the rear. The +dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the distance, and while Joel +pondered on its location over the divide, a horseman emerged from a dip +in the plain and came toward him in a slow gallop. + +"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, slacking his +horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which swell was the real +divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch last summer, but the frost +has mellowed up the soil and the grass has overgrown the paths until +every trace is gone. I planted a guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's +Trail,' so the other foremen will know where to turn off. All the old +man's herds are within three or four days' drive, and after that it's +almost a solid column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of +the rear herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle." + +The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle stock, +but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been dropping +our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will bring them +through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going to saw off +three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, good for +next year." + +A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions given the +point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once man and boy had +fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was given and the cattle +turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. The wagon and remuda +never halted; on being joined by the two horsemen, they continued on +into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the hour named to water the herd, +and punctual to the moment the beeves, with a mile-wide front, were +grazed up to the creek. + +The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner was +over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in mimicking a +trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd was within +sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in below the ranch +for the noon camp. + +Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own men. +"Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out to-night. I may +not be with you, but water in the Republican at six o'clock to-morrow +evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he concluded, addressing +the segundo. + +The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to quench +thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the strong, and the +excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and thirsty. An hour is the +minimum time, during which half the herd may drink and lie down, +affording the others the chance to approach without fear and slake +their thirst. + +The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the water +were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, while the +others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. The previous +scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy beeves, equally +select with the vanguard, floundered into the pools, lowed in their joy, +drank to gorging, fought their fellows, staggered out of the creek, and +dropped to rest in the first dust or dry grass. + +Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, when he +and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, and sent the +second herd on its way. Each of the three advance herds must reach the +Republican the following day, and it was scant two o'clock when the +third one trailed out from the Beaver. With mature cattle there were +few cripples, and the day ended with an addition to the little ranch of +the promised horses and a few tender-footed beeves. There were two more +herds of heavy beef cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next +forenoon, and the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, +intended for army delivery, had passed the ranch. + +The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From that far +distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages the one has +ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds promptly reached the +Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, and passed on before noon. + +"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when the last +herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six herds of contract +cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of beeves, but Mr. Lovell +detailed him to oversee this next division across to the Platte. Forrest +will follow Quirk with the last five herds of young steers, slated for +the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. That puts our cattle +across the Beaver, but you'll have plenty of company for the next month. +Mr. Lovell has made a good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll +give these trail drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, +there are two things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, +and that the cows will calve in the spring." + +Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. Before +dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon and remuda, +and returned to the tent. + +"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping his +saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for water this +year that every foreman seems to think that unless he reaches the river +to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart was the limit agreed on +before leaving Dodge, and here I am with six herds--twenty thousand +cattle!--within twenty miles of the Beaver. For fear of a stampede last +night, we threw the herds left and right, two miles off the trail. The +Lord surely loves cattle or the earth would have shook from +running herds!" + +That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the Lovell +herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the boys with his +usual rough caress. + +"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through with the +two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and an extra man +to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and friends, will be +lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch while you're gone. One +of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, remember. I'll meet you +to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the cripples out and point them in to +the new tanks below. Shake out your fat horses, sweat them up a +little--you're needed at the rear of Lovell's main drive." + +The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear herds +reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to safe camps +beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef at +headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty where +the year before he lay wounded. + +The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The lead one +yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard disgorged a +few over one hundred head. The two contingents were thrown together, the +brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, where they were freed on a +perfect range. A count of the cripples and fagged cattle, culled back at +headquarters, brought the total discard of the sixteen herds up to two +hundred and forty-odd, a riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a +young steer to a seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the +reckoning. + +Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, had +reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was to be had +in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with interest, and +once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, Forrest and the +brothers rode around the pools to take soundings. + +"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss runs +from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the heaviest," said +Joel, summing up the situation. + +"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average of +five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the reason it's +standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the stars, but the +water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell those waiting +foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch will water every +trail herd, or break a tug trying." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WATER! WATER! + + +"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of trail +foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out better +than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a trifle. +From the present outlook, we can water the drive." + +"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" trail boss. +"I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw River at Dodge +was only running at night." + +"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," doggedly said +a pock-marked foreman. + +"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W man. "The +faraway hills are always green." + +The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the total +drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, addressing +the pock-marked foreman. + +"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty thousand +head," came the languid reply. + +"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to Joel. +"Better revise your water estimate." + +"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I may have +to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle." + +"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, arising. "My +cattle must have water this evening." + +The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we drop our +strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that Mr. Lovell +mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be abandoned." + +"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the little +man. + +"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear ones +have orders to bring through to you." + +"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our range, and +crippled cattle are as good as gold to us." + +Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys followed, and +Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on the drag end of +your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll get up a fresh horse +and overtake you." + +"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign your +petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm as good +as afoot." + +The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," said Joel +to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the lead herd, +come in on the water above the field. The upper pools are the deepest, +and let your cattle cover the water evenly." + +"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to come up +to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have suffered from +thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, if grazed up to it. +You may take one point and I'll take the other." + +The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. Among +the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. Wells Brothers +were being thrown in contact with the most practical men that the +occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The novelty of trailing +cattle vast distances had its origin with the Texans. Bred to the +calling, they were masters of the craft. In the hands of an adept outfit +of a dozen men, a trail herd of three thousand beeves had all the +mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The crack of a whip was unheard on the +trail. A whispered order, followed by a signal to the men, and the herd +turned, grazed to its contentment, fell into column formation, and took +up its march--a peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact +with these men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the boys. + +The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a mile of +the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel Wells. But +instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on into the lead, +the action being seemingly understood by every one except the new hand +on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive column of beeves yield to +his slightest pressure, as a ship to the hand of the helmsman, as he +veered the leaders out of the broken trails and guided the herd around +the field to the upper pools. On nearing the water, the deposed point +men deployed nearer the lead, when the object of their position +explained itself. On sighting the ponds, the leaders broke into a run, +but the four horsemen at hand checked the excited dash, and the herd was +led up to the water in column formation. It was the mastery of man over +the creature. + +The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The swarthy +little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an Indian agency +in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under contract to +different cattle companies, in adjoining states and territories. The +tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but the point of delivery +was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch outfit would receive +the cattle. + +The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven on +speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, and the +men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot. + +"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, "of +walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A mount of six +horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it won't do on the +trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on the Platte. Actually, +this afternoon is the first time I have felt a horse under me since we +crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of paper, please. I want to give you +a bill of sale for these six drag ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I +carry written authority to give a bill of sale, and it will always +protect your possession of the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a +head in Ogalalla, but when they round into form again next summer, some +brand ferret passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I +cull out here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned." + +The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. The rush +of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during their waking +hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting of cripples to the +new tanks below was pressing, and order must be established. The water +in the pools was the main concern, a thing beyond human control, and a +matter of constant watchfulness. A remark dropped during the day, of +water flowing at night, was not lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells. + +"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W foreman, +while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only running +at night?" + +"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by day," +replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of the plain, +including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the south, only flow at +night. It's their protection against the sun's absorption. Mark these +pools at sunset and see if they don't rise an inch to-night. Try it +and see." + +Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. The +extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was indulged +in and freely expressed. + +"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, sleepless in his +blankets, "it'll double our holding of cattle." + +"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got to stand +by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the Republican. +I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are gone, we'll round up +the wintered cattle, drift them over to the south fork of the +Republican, and get some one to hold them until frost falls. Then we'll +ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, and that will free the new +tanks--water enough for twenty trail herds. We have the horses, and +these trail outfits will lend us any help we need. By shifting cattle +around, I can see a month's supply. And there may be something in water +rising at night. We'll know in the morning." + +Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the trail +foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss knew," shouted +Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The water rose in every +pool. The lower one gained an inch and the upper one gained two. The +creek is running freely. The water must be rising out of the ground. Let +those Texans bring on their herds. We have oceans of water!" + +The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new ranch. It +took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared for, and a hand +was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag end. Open house was +maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered a horse, and left his +benediction on the Beaver. + +The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first foremen to +arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up at sunset, with +a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual easy manner +inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?" + +"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising the +situation. "One of your men hurt?" + +"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. "Just a +little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant water, out of +cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets into the bones of the +best of us. I'm not feeling very well myself." + +Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the poor +fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you and I +carry him?" + +"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him in," +answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel Wells?" + +"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and we'll +bring the sick man in at once." + +It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. The +unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, Straw had +skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules. + +"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after greeting +Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one of the +trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has to go back +to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify them for +the trip." + +The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued Straw, +"by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the best men that +ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him on his feet again. +Now, if one of you boys will take the team back to--" + +"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this hospital wants +done--We're running a relief station now--watering the entire drive this +year. Where's your outfit camped?" + +"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's empty. +Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in time for +breakfast." + +"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, is a +horse that's easy curried." + +The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time the sick +man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his cattle made +welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, Straw had lost his +place in the overland march, two herds having passed him and crossed +the Beaver. + +"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who arrived +together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter that'll rob you +right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the bill in advance. This +cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth three cents a head, and I'll +count you down to a toddling calf and your wagon mules. Your drafts are +refused honor at the Beaver banks--nothing but the long green passes +currency here. You varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage +of a widow woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me." + +"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of the +foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept with me? +How's the black cow I gave you last summer?" + +Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" said he, +recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. Sit down. +Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like lettuce?" + +"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the two +mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in smoke. You're +not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, ransack both our +wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some dainties for this sick +lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; he never has anything to eat; +Injuns won't go near his wagon." + +Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, make +yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and they're +our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when you get on +your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count on a job with +me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit is relieved. This +fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. I'll keep an eye over +you until you are well. S'long, Jack." + +The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. There +were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of advancing summer +the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources of the ponds were a +constant source of surprise, as an occasional heavy beef caved a foot +into an old beaver warren, which poured its contents into the pools. At +the end of the first fortnight, after watering fifty-eight herds, nearly +half the original quantity of water was still in reserve. + +A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the arrival of +herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water reserves suffered +freely, more from the sun's absorption than from cattle, until the +supply became a matter of the most serious concern. The pools would not +have averaged a foot in depth, the flow from the springs was a mere +trickle, the beaver burrows sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and +there must be some limit to the amount the parched soil would yield. + +The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the second +week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack Sargent, was +up and observant of the situation. True to his calling, he felt for the +cattle, and knew the importance of water on the Beaver to the +passing drive. + +"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the emergency. +"Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun an advantage. +It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You must deepen these +pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest these ponds a few days, or +only water late at night. You have water for weeks yet, but don't let +the sun rob you. These ponds are living springs compared to some of the +water we used south of Red River. Meet the herds on the divide, and +pilot the early ones to the tanks below, and the late ones in here. +Shifting in your saddle rests a horse, and a little shifting will save +your water." + +The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was installed as +host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their saddles. The majority +of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and after a consultation with +the foremen their cattle were started so as to reach the tanks by day or +the ranch at evening. The month rounded out with the arrival of eighteen +herds, only six of which touched at headquarters, and the fourth week +saw a distinct gain in the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys +barely touched at home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, +piloting in herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and +content with the crumbs that fell to their range. + +The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral history of the +West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana cattle trail was marked +by the bones of forty thousand cattle that fell, due to the want of +water, during the months of travail on that long march. Some of this +loss was due to man's inhumanity to the cattle of the fields, in +withholding water, but no such charge rested on the owners of the little +ranch on the Beaver. + +A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's drive. +Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had strength in +reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. The +fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which touched at the ranch; +half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had neither a cripple nor a +stray to bestow, but shared the welcome water and passed on. + +One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It was from +Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous invitation to come to +Dodge and look over the market. + +"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have returned +to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is inviting. The boom +prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. Any investment in cattle +now is perfectly safe. + +"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will pass your +ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring a mount of +horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this year's drive is +here, unsold. Be sure and come." + +"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter. + +"I am," answered Joel with emphasis. + +"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap that no +other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to buy her. +Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to buy or all +want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys have told me; +but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I can see that he's +going to take advantage of that market and buy about ten thousand +cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. I'll stay with Dell until +you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, and I'll help you hold them +this winter." + +The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust cloud, the +slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching cavalcade. The last +week admitted of taking an account of the cattle dropped at the new +ranch. From the conserves of its owners, one hundred and four herds had +watered, over three hundred thousand cattle, the sweepings of which +amounted to a few over eleven hundred head, fully fifty of which, +exhausted beyond recovery, died after reaching their new range. + +By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August was +ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the division +foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the morning, in advance +of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for Joel. Dell answered for +the brothers, the older one and Sargent being above at Hackberry Grove. + +"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. "Make +haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of six horses +and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the seventh. My outfit +will barely touch here in passing. We're due to receive cattle in Dodge +on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can overtake us before night. +Make haste." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A PROTECTED CREDIT + + +The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. The +importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, he +started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were met +returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the breathless +report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the homeward ride. + +"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging out of +the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a feed of +corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince says that +that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a camp at night, +or trail a remuda like a hound." + +An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a wild-goose +chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I can make a hand +coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your name goes on the +pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of the ranch, anyhow. +There isn't much to do except to ride the dead-line twice a day. The +wintered cattle are located; and the cripples below--the water and +their condition will hold them. Keep open house, and amuse yourselves +the best you can. That's about all I can think of just now." + +Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his years, he +was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, the far-famed +trail-town of the West, and without visible resources buy cattle, was a +fit subject for musing. There the drovers from Texas and the ranchmen +from the north and west met and bartered for herds--where the drive of +the year amounted to millions in value. Still the boy carried a pressing +invitation from a leading drover to come, and neither slacking rein nor +looking back, he was soon swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain. + +Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said the +latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy cattle +without money gets me." + +"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured a start +in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a thousand head +out of the cripples this year, what have they cost you?" + +"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market where +buyers and sellers meet." + +"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of two +years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in Texas. Cattle +companies were organized on the very summit of that craze. Then came the +slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price nearly forty per cent. This +year there is a further falling. I'm giving you Texas conditions. Half +the herds at Dodge to-day are being handled by the receivers of cattle +companies or by trustees for banks. That accounts for the big drive. +Then this drouth came on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any +purpose, except to restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. +They'll buy the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get +good and ready." + +Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern cowman +can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?" + +"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his neck, all +the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is pouring into +cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as good as gold. Now, +when all that investment is trying to withdraw from cattle, they become +a drag on the market. The Simple Simons ain't all dead yet. Joel will +buy cattle." + +"He may, but I don't see how." + +"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are known in +Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during the drouth, +has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your behalf, is as good as +money in the bank. Joel will come back with cattle. My only fear is, he +won't strain his credit." + +"Credit! Who would credit us?" + +"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your showing at +the same age. They have fought their way up and know who to credit. Your +range and ability to hold cattle are your best assets. We must shape up +the ranch, because Joel will come in with cattle." + +"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, if Joel +comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and shout as +loud as any of you." + +"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's saddle up +horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I want to get the +lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the cattle." + +Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles a +day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the lone +horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman halted +until Joel overtook the travelers. + +"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to crowd three +days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with you, but I had a +wire to pick you up." + +"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more cattle," +admitted Joel. + +"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our way now +to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of cattle in +sight for you." + +"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if it takes +any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy. + +"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man do the +worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he has everything +all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, but it's as clear as +mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four days." + +The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after sunrise, +a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the heat-waves rolled +up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat and dust crusted over +the horses under saddle, without variation of pace or course. Only three +herds were met, feeling their way through the mirages, or loitering +along the waters. Traveling by night was preferable, and timing the +route into camps and marches, the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was +sighted in advance of the schedule. + +The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd had been +sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made snug, a +conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell alighted. + +"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, amid +general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on enough +cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to receive +them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll receive to-morrow +afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but his outfit ought to +reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on this market, and have +all the cattle in sight that I want. Several deals are pending, awaiting +the arrival of this boy. Come to town to-night. I'll take Joel under my +wing right now." + +Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and the +vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and following down +the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail wagon encamped. A +number of men were about, including a foreman; and at the request of Mr. +Lovell to look over their cattle and horses again the camp took on an +air of activity. A small remuda was corralled within ropes, running from +choice to common horses, all of which were looked over carefully by the +trio, including the wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, +and led by the foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to +bunch the herd. + +Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig and +leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the best +herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and I've kept the +deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it together. It runs full +thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred threes and the remainder +twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds for my beef ranch, because I +double-winter all my steer cattle--it takes two winters in the north to +finish these Texas steers right. Now, if you can handle the threes, the +remnant of twos, and the saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, +and barrel. The threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next +fall, and you can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two +thousand of the two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we +look them over, leave me to close the trade." + +"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy cattle +without money," earnestly said Joel. + +"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this herd +together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, and a +ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can buy, with or +without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like the cattle and want +them, leave it all to me." + +"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested Joel. + +"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these southern +horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year you'll be +running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending others on fall +round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll have them in the pink +of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few under sixty horses, as +fifty head were detailed out here to strengthen remudas that had to go +to the Yellowstone. This foreman will tell you that he topped out +twenty-five of the choice horses before the other trail bosses were +allowed to pick. As the remuda stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. +A year hence one will be as good as the other. You'll need the horses, +and by buying down to the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and +free, it will help me to close the trade, in our mutual interest." + +The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by quietly +edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be easily looked +over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the prospective buyers, the +foreman had the cattle sufficiently compact, and the old man and the boy +drove back and forth through the herd for fully an hour. They were +thrifty, western Texas steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the +trail at Camp Supply, and were all that could be desired in range +cattle. The two agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out +from among the cattle, the foreman was signaled up. + +"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said Mr. +Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to pick up +another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very near selling +me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the threes and remnant of +twos, and if you price the horses right, we might leave you afoot. If +you see Dudley before I do, tell him I looked over his cattle again." + +"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the vehicle. + +Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of wicked +Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its iniquity +catering largely to the rabble. + +"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you look +after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is almost sure +to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we looked over his cattle +again. I want him to hound me into buying that herd." + +Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to all that +was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in the extreme. +The two strolled about the streets during the evening hours, and on +returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard was awaiting the old +drover. There was no prelude to the matter at issue, and after arranging +with other sellers to receive the following day, Mr. Lovell led the way +to his room. + +"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, presenting +Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the Beaver this summer. +I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and gave him a good scolding +for not stocking his range somewhere near its carrying capacity. He's +the buyer I had in view for your three-year-olds. You offered me the +herd, on time, and at satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the +twos, and Wells Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you +afoot. Say so, and your herd is sold." + +"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen to know +the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend them a credit. +This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with boys." + +"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily replied +Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making the fight +that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early struggles, had +some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it might have been +different with us to-day. And now when I don't need no help--Dud, it +don't cost much to help others. These boys have proven themselves white, +to yours and to my men and to yours and to my cattle. Is there nothing +we can do?" + +Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer to you. +Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and remnants. You +know the brothers--you know their resources." + +"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot. + +"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?" + +"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. Their +only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last winter, the +most severe one in the history of the West, they lost two per cent of +their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good a showing on any of +our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to throw on this boy's +shoulders the _responsibility_ of _paying_ for _any cattle he buys_. At +his age it would be wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you +and I stand behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right +effort to protect his credit." + +"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll suggest the +means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway." + +Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet of +paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from seller to +buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will be a vendor's +lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its second will be the +appointment of a commission house, who will act as agent, hold this +contract, and receive the beeves when ready for shipment to market. Its +third clause will be your right, as creditor in a sale of chattel, to +place a man of your own selection on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their +pay and subject to their orders. As your representative, the privilege +is granted of making a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the +condition of the cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet +this, their covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887. + +"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. Lovell, +throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to learn the +value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, it's an asset. +I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I want him to meet his +first obligation on or before the day of maturity. I can speak for the +boy's willingness to make such a contract. What do you say?" + +"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard. + +"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a seven +days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your outfit home from +Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all your trouble. What +do you say?" + +"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a +square deal." + +The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and threw his +arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The cattle's yours! That +old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all around the big corral and +spur him in the flank at every jump, unless he comes to those terms. An +iron-clad bill of sale is its own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I +want to give the long yell." + +Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel arose to +meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and action. + +"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose twinkling +eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to draw up that +bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for themselves next +fall. Get to bed, you rascals!" + +"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river and +gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the doorway. + +"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the morning. We'll +close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred of those Womack +twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an eye over Joel's +cattle until the Beaver's reached." + +During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in contact +with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the migrations +of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and Ogalalla are +unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, reaching a climax +on American soil, and not of record in any other country or time. Joel +let little escape him. Here men bought and sold by the thousand head, in +his day and generation, and he was a part of that epoch. + +The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest were +purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in receiving a +herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted by two competent +foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and wherefore, was pointed +out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, so that the lesson sunk into +Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the first herd received was in the +uniform average of each animal, when ages, class, and build governed +selection. + +Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's rest +arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next morning. +When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness with which the +two outfits classified the cattle was only short of marvelous. The +threes were cut out, and each age counted. The over-plus of the younger +cattle were cut back, and the contingents were tendered on delivery. The +papers were ready, executed on the ground, and the herds started, the +smaller in the lead. + +The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most of his +time with the little herd, which used only eight men, counting Joel, who +stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd numbered a few over +fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six horses, a team and wagon, +the total contract price of which was a trifle under twenty-five +thousand dollars. It looked like a serious obligation for two boys to +assume, but practical men had sanctioned it, and it remained for the +ability of Wells Brothers to meet it. + +On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the new trail, +which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, a remark was +dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack Sargent. It resulted +in the two riding out on the trail, only to meet the purchased cattle, +Joel on one point and Forrest on the other, directing the herds to the +tanks below. The action bespoke its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the +latter jerked his thumb over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and +pilot the wagon and remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of +cattle into the new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. +Lovell's cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. +See how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over that. +Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit to the +railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers are shaking +out a right smart bit of sail these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"THE WAGON" + + +The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the appointed +time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial obligation, it +would establish their standing, and to that end every energy must be +directed. They were extremely fortunate in the advice and help of two +young men bred to the occupation, and whose every interest lay in making +a success of the ranch. + +The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything was +abandoned but their saddles--_burning the wagon_--while Joe Manly, one +of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even the foreman, and on +taking his departure the trail boss, in the presence of all, said to his +man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to this ranch and make a useful hand. +Drop old man Dudley a line whenever you have a chance. It's quite a +little ride to the station, and we'll understand that no news is good +news. And once you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, +better raise the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the +fall--during the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next +summer's plans begin to unfold." + +Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of the +South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had watered +during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving its foreman on +the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, paving the way in +detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle during the coming winter. +With numbers exceeding three thousand, close herd and corralling at +night was impossible, and the riding of lines, with an extra camp, +admitting of the widest freedom, was decided on as the most feasible +method. The new camp must be located well above Hackberry Grove, and to +provision it for man and horse was one of the many details outlined in +meeting the coming winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having +held cattle by one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting +some other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was simple +and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault from +drifting cattle. + +Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next morning, he +turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may be the last time +I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is talk of the trail +moving west. On account of fever, this State threatens to quarantine +against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail will have to move over into +Colorado or hunt a new route through unorganized counties on the western +line of Kansas. In event of quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger +range for Wells Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in +cattle, just getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big +future for you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, +toddling around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't matter +if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank account, be living +on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as you stick to cows, +through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse you." + +The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and Manly +busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and Sargent +accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that evening, and it +proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for that summer. + +The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was narrowed +to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle watering at +the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, including all +horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty head, was moved up +to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The wintered horses furnished +ample saddle mounts for the present, there being little to do, as the +water held the new cattle and no herding was required. The heat of +summer was over, the water held in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch +settled down in pastoral security. + +Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of forage must +be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to the man was the +lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery was available on the +railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned with a new mowing machine, +and the matter of providing abundant forage was easily met. Sufficient +hay, from a few bends of the creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the +home ranch, and a week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site +of the new line-camp equipped with winter forage. + +While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced on Wells +Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to any pastoral +occupation, and hence _the wagon_ becomes a cowman's home and castle. +From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, welcomes the wayfarer, and +exchanges the chronicle of the range. The wagon, which had been acquired +with the new herd and used on the above occasion, was well equipped with +canvas cover, water barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The +latter was fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a +kitchen. When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus becomes +home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the other. Saddle +horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the safety of a camp-fire +and the protection of their masters, and therefore a closer bond exists +between the men of the open and their mounts than under more refined +surroundings. + +Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down the +Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of running water. +It was followed by early frosts, lifting the dead-line and ushering in +Indian summer. With forage secure, attention was turned to the cattle. +The purchase of a mowing machine had exhausted the funds derived from +the sale of peltry, and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide +the munitions for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly +provisioned for a week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the +quartette moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown into a +compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the spiritless +cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid as fawns, shied +from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in comforting concern, the beeves +waddled about from carrying their own flesh, while the patriarchs of the +herd bellowed in sullen defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut +out from the ---- Y brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first +shipment of cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets. + +Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the railroad. +Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the remuda, the two +others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn in standing guard at +night. Water was plentiful, cars were in waiting, and on reaching the +railroad, the cattle were corralled in the shipping pens. + +Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The beeves were +consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as factor in +marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently passed from the +possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells Brothers. The two cars of +cattle found a ready sale, the weights revealing a surprise, attracting +the attention of packers and salesmen to the quality of beef from the +Beaver valley. + +"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a salesman to a +packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the weighing scale. "You +and I needn't worry about the question of range--the buffalo knew. Catch +the weights of these cattle and compare it with range beef from the +sedge-grass and mountain country. Tallow tells its own story--the +buffalo knew the best range." + +An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a mutual +basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, detained Joel +and Manly in his private office for an hour. + +"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to ship," said +the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The Solomon River +country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is the first shipment +from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your consignment the fattest +range beeves on to-day's market. And these weights confirm the +statement. I don't understand it. What kind of a country have you +out there?" + +Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered the +latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by the +thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and rolls away." + +It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. "The +grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native grasses?" + +"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of course, +here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a little blue-stem, +enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. The cattle won't +touch it." + +The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, of which +the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The details were gone +over carefully, the outlook for next year's shipments reviewed, and on +taking their leave, the old man said to his guests:-- + +"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters from both +Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over the situation, +with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and satisfactory. Next +year's shipments will take care of the contract. Keep in touch with us, +and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship your cattle in finished +condition, and they'll make a market for themselves. We'll expect you +early next summer." + +"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel. + +"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your single-wintered +beeves," said the old man, from his practical knowledge in maturing +beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has your account all ready." + +Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a moment. The +beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and except for current +expenses, the funds were left on deposit with the commission house, as +there were no banks near home; the account was subject to draft, and +accepting a small advance in currency, the boys departed. A brief hour's +shopping was indulged in, the principal purchases being two long-range +rifles, cartridges and poison in abundance, when they hastened to the +depot and caught a west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, +and at evening the next day the two rode into headquarters on +the Beaver. + +Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the first +shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an air of +independence indicated the turn in the swing of the pendulum. Practical +men, in every avenue of the occupation, had lent their indorsement to +the venture of the brothers, the mettle of the pasture had been tested +in the markets, and the future, with reasonable vigilance, rested on +sure foundations. + +The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think Uncle Dud +would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at supper. "There's +no occasion for my staying here this winter. Besides, I'm a tender +plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of thunder. Wouldn't I like +to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, 'Come home, my little white +chicken, come home!'" + +"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!" + +"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now listen to the +foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every hoof up to date. +Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building of a new dug-out and +stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight in plenty of corn. After +that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's our own fault. No excuse will +pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, +make yourself a useful guest for the winter." + +A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their mothers were +brought down to the home corral and branded in a single day. The +Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were exempt, the Lazy H +ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. Only cripple, fagged, and +stray cattle were branded, the latter numbering less than a hundred +head, and were run into the Hospital brand, while the remainder bore +the--Y of the ranch. The work was completed within a week, Dell making a +hand which proved his nerve, either in the saddle or branding pen. + +The first week in October was devoted to building the new dug-out and +stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and tool on the +ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as well as the +remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as if it were a +frolic. The site had been decided on during the haying, and on reaching +the scene, the tent was set up, and the building of a shelter for man +and horse was begun. + +The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and the +remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt break or +low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot cellar walls on +three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod walls and containing +the door. The sod was broken by a team and plough, cut into lengths like +brick, and the outside walls raised to the desired height. For roofing, +a heavy ridge-pole was cut the length of the room, resting on stout +upright posts. Lighter poles were split and laid compactly, like +rafters, sheeted with hay, and covered with loose dirt to the depth of a +foot. The floor was earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented +by a door in the south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable +shelter. A roomy stable was built on the same principle and from the +same material. + +The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, when the +quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway house at Land's +End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the new improvements. "What +are you going to call the new tepee?" + +"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell having +accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and let the +latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you must bring your +knitting and come over." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OPEN WINTER + + +An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late fall +frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light rains in +September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on the sunny +slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus assuring abundant +forage to the cattle. + +Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any cold, +while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the plains. +After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, the quartette +paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new dug-out, while the other +two were perfectly content with the old shack at headquarters. A healthy +spirit of rivalry sprang up, extending from a division of the horses +down to a fair assignment of the blankets. + +Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter aroused a +dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said Sargent, "up on +the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail outfit were detailed +until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the cattle, and of course the +cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught us in camp, and that poor +darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to say to the foreman, shivering +over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah +fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no +place fo' a po' ol' niggah.'" + +Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round trips +being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies for the +winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of which were +four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of corned beef fell a +pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was nothing new in pickling +the meat, and with the exception of felling the beeves, the incident +passed as part of the day's work. Dell claimed the privilege of making +the shots, which Sargent granted, but exercised sufficient caution to +corral the beeves. Both fell in their tracks, and the novice gained +confidence in his skill in the use of a rifle. + +The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of lines. That +date found all the new cattle drifted above headquarters, and as it was +some ten miles to the upper line-camp, an extremely liberal range was +allowed the herd. Eight of the best wintered horses were stabled, and at +first the line was maintained on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer +line was agreed upon, five miles to the south; but until the season +forced the cattle to the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept +under patrol. The outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an +immense half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the winter +range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, drifting +before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back or +trailed down. + +The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. Many of +the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, not even +coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several times the +horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an advantage, the +cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft snow even failed to +bring the cattle into the valley. + +Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. The +through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter fat and +furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and instinctively +leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the first storm. Between +the morning and evening patrol of a perfect day, the herd, of its own +accord, drifted into the valley, the leaders rioting in a wild frolic. +Their appearance hastened the patrol of the inner line by an hour, every +nook and shelter, including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome +cattle. The calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the +older cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their +foreheads in clay and soft dirt. + +"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met. + +"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came the +reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, the +herd say so." + +"What can we do?" + +"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless driven out +by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming storm also +teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the blue-stem to-night, or +hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank." + +A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was agreed +upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out early, and +keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the line," Sargent +called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will leave The Wagon at +daybreak." + +The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an angry +horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from the north. +On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm on an angle, +edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting defiance and +warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. The light advanced +slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, obscuring the valley, and not +until the slope to the south was reached was the situation known. + +No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving the +line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering trace +where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both he and Dell +dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach and departure, +the range-bred man was able to give a perfect summary of the situation. + +"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," remarked +Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; the storm must +have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. They struck the +creek in the flats and were driven out of the valley. The trail's not +over two hours old. Ride the line until you meet the other boys, and +I'll trail down these cattle. The sand dunes ought to catch them." + +Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was met. +Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a contingent +of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting the stragglers +back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers turned to the +assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, and finally bearing +off for the sand hills. Several times the sun threatened to break +through, lighting the valley, but without revealing any stir among the +cattle in the shelter of the creek. In the short time since leaving +their stables, the horses under saddle had whitened from the action of +the frost on their sweaty coats, unheeded by their riders. There was no +checking of mounts until the range of dunes was reached, when from the +summit of a sand hill the stragglers were located in care of Sargent, +and on the homeward drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered +from the cold that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, +and were overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain. + +The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of the +brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the sun burst +forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in parting. "A few +hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got the upper hand of this +storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the wind lulls, we'll ride the +inner line to-night and bed every hoof in the shelter of the creek. Pick +up Manly, and we'll ride the valley line about the middle of the +afternoon." + +Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under patrol +from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to Dell, +leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and before noon +all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty miles had been +covered that morning, in riding the line and recovering the lost, and at +the agreed time, the relay horses were under saddle for the afternoon +task. The sun had held sway, the wind had fallen, and as they followed +up the valley, they encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to +every quarter of the compass. They were not molested on the outward +ride, but on the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to +the sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. A +crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found the +cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first bottoms of +the creek. + +The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own accord, +the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern divide. The +line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for observing the +Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to secure a venison. The +absence of snow, during the storm, had held the antelope tributary to +the Beaver, and locating game was an easy matter. To provide the roast, +the spirit of rivalry was accented anew, and each camp fervently hoped +for its own success. + +A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a running shot +at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a morning siesta +near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only be found in the sand +hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent had flattered Dell into +believing that his aim was equal to the occasion. The broken nature of +the dune country admitted of stealthy approach, and its nearness to the +upper camp recommended it as an inviting hunting ground. The +disappointment of the first effort, due to moderated weather, was in +finding the quarry far afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the +protection of the sand hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without +shelter to screen a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and +selecting a quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins +lengthened by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking right +and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a stealthy +approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed ravenously, +sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect screen for stalking. + +After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was reached, when +the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass and allowed the +horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent indicated a sentinel buck, +presenting the best shot; and using his elbow for a rest, the rifle was +laid in the hollow of Dell's upraised hand and drawn firmly to his +shoulder, and a prompt report followed. The shot went wild, throwing up +a flash of dust before the band, which instantly whirled. The horses +merely threw up their heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, +which ran up within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the +excitement of the moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had +arisen to his knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another +cartridge into the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as +the band excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger +in vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a few +feet of the muzzle of the rifle! + +The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, laughing +until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's chagrin left him +standing like a simpleton. + +"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too easy +on the trigger." + +"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered Sargent, not +daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next spring, those scars +in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither horse was killed. Honest, +I'll never breathe it! Not for worlds!" + +Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his horse, +mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching their saddles, +the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a pleasant dream, the +boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck ague?" he earnestly inquired. + +"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his horse. +"Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or discharges one into +the ground at his feet, he ought to take something for his nerves. It's +not fatal, and I have hopes of your recovery." + +The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a peal of +laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed to +appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, "if we +have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I can grace it +with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of venison, it will fit the +occasion just as well." + +The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual amount +of banter and repartee was exchanged. + +"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked Sargent +scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much confidence +in your skill as hunters." + +"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly. + +"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We located +a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, I'll go out +in the morning and bring in a fat yearling." + +"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly with +refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow and come +down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're going to have +quite a spread." + +Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with polished +contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived on beans at +The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware wasn't as good as +their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come on!" + +Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before noon, a +young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations were made for an +extensive dinner. The practical range man is usually a competent cook, +and from the stores of the winter camp a number of extra dishes were +planned. In the way of a roast, on the plains, a saddle of venison was +the possible extreme, and the occupants of the line-camp possessed a +ruddy health which promised appetites to grace the occasion. + +Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed the dead +weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the creek from pool +to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with droning bees and +flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning patrol alone, meeting +Joel at the halfway point, when the two dismounted, whiling away several +hours in considering future plans of the ranch. + +It was high noon when the two returned to their respective quarters. +Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the venison, and on +his crony's return, the two sat down to their Christmas dinner. What the +repast lacked in linen and garnishment, it made up in stability, graced +by a cheerfulness and contentment which made its partakers at peace with +the world. Sargent was almost as resourceful in travel and story as +Quince Forrest, and never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace +any occasion. + +Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, was +enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to Sargent, "you +promised to tell a story at dinner to-day." + +"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into the ground +at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if I have to +laugh; you looked like a simpleton." + +"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell. + +"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, but in +a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to be your +father, but he looked just as witless as you did." + +"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy. + +"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in certain +sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a week's +shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, known as one of +the most fearless officers in the state. In size he simply towered above +the rest of us. + +"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking and +coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting grounds, and +the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg and every jug on +the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and were carried in +the wagon. + +"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a quail +pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the afternoon, he +killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very plentiful, and instead of +picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such a number was much quicker. In +the hurry and bustle of making the camp snug for the night, every one +was busy, the sheriff in particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On +finishing the task, he asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse +wrangler reached into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into +the vessel containing the dressed birds. + +"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and drain +his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: 'Ignacio, I +smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if the lantern +isn't leaking.' + +"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere. + +"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway through +the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. See if the +lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.' + +"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in the +flour.' + +"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: 'Ignacio, +I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a lantern without oil +puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. Drop your work and see +what the trouble is. There's a leak somewhere.' + +"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the wagon +wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, shook it, +and lifted it above his head in search of a possible crack. The empty +jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually sifted through his +mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big sheriff, just then +finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the saints to witness, he +gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail in the kerosene!' + +"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's face is +only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. "I've been +fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a Texas sheriff, and +again, when you shot a hole in the ground with your eye on an antelope. +Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I conjure up the scene of a +Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, holding a jug, and a six-footer in +the background, smelling the fingers of one hand and then the other." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN INDIAN SCARE + + +The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered wide, +ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. The latter +was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson to the +brothers, and readily explained by the older and more practical men. For +instance, a north or the dreaded east wind brought the herd into the +valley, where it remained until the weather moderated, and then drifted +out of its own free will. When a balmy south wind blew, the cattle +grazed against it, and when it came from a western quarter, they turned +their backs and the gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under +settled weather, even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it +was an easy matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the +coming day. + +The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, but more +as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The occasional reports +of Manly to his employer were flattering in the extreme. Any risk +involved in the existing contract hinged on the present winter, and +since it was all that could be desired, every fine day added to the +advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their venture had been greeted with +fair winds, and with not a cloud in the visible sky. Manly was even +recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in February. + +Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a fortnight +earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the willows were +bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening slopes rolled +away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp was abandoned, the +cattle were scattered over the entire valley, and the instincts to +garden were given free rein. The building of two additional tanks, one +below the old trail crossing and the other near the new camp above, +occupied a month's time to good advantage. It enlarged the range beyond +present needs; but the brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, +and theirs was strictly a policy of expansion. + +An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing errand, was +usually rewarded with important news. During the winter just passed, +Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the trail was barred +from that state. Early in May information reached the ranch that the +market interests of Dodge City had moved over the line into Colorado, +and had established a town on the railroad, to be known as Trail City. A +feasible route lay open to the south, across No-Man's-Land, into the +Texas Panhandle, while scouting parties were out with the intent of +locating a new trail to Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River +nearly due westward from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one +hundred miles distant. + +"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You must +have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river and a +railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the east to +the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you can buy +cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until frost, and +cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may prove an +advantage after all." + +The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The beaver +ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill race, and the +question of water for the summer was answered. The cattle early showed +the benefits of the favorable winter, and by June the brands were +readable at a glance. From time to time reports from the outside world +reached the brothers, and among other friendly letters received was an +occasional inquiry from the commission firm, the factors named under the +existing contract. The house kept in touch with the range, was fully +aware of the open winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in +maturing cattle for early shipment. + +The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent out a +month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised of a +promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the commission house, +and during the first week in July he arrived at headquarters. He was a +practical man, with little concern for comfort, as long as there were +cattle to look over. Joel took him in tow, mounted him on the pick of +saddle horses, and the two leisurely rode the range. + +"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride. + +"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. Put in +all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that range wide, +for we rode around every outside bunch. He _can_ talk, because he +admitted we have good horses." + +Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At parting the +following morning, in summing up the outlook, the solicitor surprised +the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he quietly. "You must ship +early. Your double-wintered beeves will reach their prime this month. +You may ship them any day after the 25th. Your single-wintered ones can +follow in three weeks. The firm may be able to advise you when to ship. +It's only a fourteen-hour run to the yards, and if you work a +beef-shipping outfit that's up to date, you can pick your day to reach +the market. Get your outfit together, keep in touch with the house by +wire, and market your beef in advance of the glut from the +Platte country." + +The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," said +Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us two men +during the beef-shipping season." + +"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in hand. + +"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?" + +"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. There +may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, fully +anticipating the query. + +"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand. + +The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled glance, but +Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," said the latter. +"The chances are that he's forgotten more about cattle than some of +these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he reads the sign without +much effort. His survey of this range and the outlook are worth +listening to. Better look up an outfit of men." + +"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm gone to the +Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the horses." + +The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located on the +range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters at once. They +had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, and a single day +would be required to gather and corral the ranch remuda. It numbered, +complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and the wisdom of buying the +majority a year in advance of their needs reflected the foresight of a +veteran cowman. Many of them were wild, impossible of approach, the call +of the plain and the free life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with +every heart-beat, and several days would be required to bring them under +docile subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep. + +The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied forth, +mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among the clouds. +During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed in the sand +hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle horses was watering. +The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the range, fully fifteen +miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle stock must be brought in, +the day's work required riding a wide circle. Skirting the sand dunes, +by early noon all the horses were in hand, save the band of thirty. +There was no occasion for all hands to assist in bringing in the absent +ones, and a consultation resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the +task, while Sargent returned home with the horses already gathered. + +The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours after +parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The brothers knew +every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid condition, they started +homeward, driving the loose mounts before them. The most direct course +to headquarters was taken, which would carry the cavalcade past the +springs and the upper winter quarters. The latter was situated in the +brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt turns of the creek, until its near +approach, shutting out a western view of the deserted dug-out. The +cavalcade was drifting home at a gentle trot, but on approaching The +Wagon, a band of ponies was sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. +The boys veered their horses, taking to the western divide, and on +gaining it, saw below them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, +around the springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos. + +Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their surprise, +all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the Indians came +tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them running for their +ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked leader signaled to the +brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment with the boys, who conversed +in whispers, never halting on their course, and when the Indians reached +their ponies, every brave dashed up to the encampment. A short parley +followed, during which signaling was maintained by the old Indian, +evidently a chief; but the boys kept edging away, and the old brave +sprang on a pony and started in pursuit, followed by a number of +his band. + +The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their mounts, shook +out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started the loose horses in a +mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to headquarters, and their +mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy saddles and the day's work, +were none too fresh, while the Indians rode bareback and were not +encumbered by an ounce of extra clothing. + +The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead of taking +to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued and pursuers in +plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so the loose horses +were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping clear of the whizzing +ropes. But after the first wild dash, the remuda began to scatter, and +the Indians gained on the cavalcade, coming fairly abreast and not over +four hundred yards distant. + +"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off from +headquarters!" + +"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. "Don't +let these loose horses turn into the valley." + +The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The meanderings +of the latter were crossed and recrossed without halting, while the +watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by dry washes and coulees, +thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. The race wore on with varying +advantage, and when near halfway to headquarters, the Indians turned up +the slope as if to verify Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a +half-dozen of the loose horses cut off from the band and turned down the +slope in plain sight of the pursuers. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY] + +"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. "Climbing +that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where we have the +best of it." + +The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept past the +abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level stretch on +the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the pursuers, baffled in +cutting them off, turned again into the valley. + +"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward glance. + +"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, and +ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice of horses +would not appease their pursuers. + +The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the brothers dipped +from sight of the Indians. The act confused the latter, who scaled the +divide, only to find the objects of their chase a full half-mile in the +lead, but calling on the last reserve in their fagged horses. The +pursuers gradually closed the intervening gap; but with the advantage of +knowing every foot of the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried +them into the valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a +straight stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the +boys dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses. + +"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. "Indians have +been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, Jack!" + +Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as Sargent +left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, and showed +splendid action in reaching the dug-out. + +Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating rifle, +while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to unearth the +story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre revealed the +Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and parleying among +themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to be unarmed, and on +Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, the old brave, simply +held up his hand. + +"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and signaled +in the leader. + +The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his followers +behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his wrinkled visage. +He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty breech-clout a greasy, grimy +letter, and tendered it to Sargent. + +The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter. + +"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine Ridge +Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian Territory. The +agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a peaceful Indian, and has +his permission to leave the reservation. He hopes that nothing but +kindness will be shown the old chief in his travels, and bespeaks the +confidence of any white settlers that he may meet on the way. You boys +must have been scared out of your wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show +you this letter." + +Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook hands +with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone Wolf, and on +returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor was burdened with +pickled beef and such other staples as the cow-camp afforded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HARVEST ON THE RANGE + + +Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone four days. +The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, but constant +inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose holdings consisted of +stock cattle. Three men were secured, their services not being urgently +required on the home ranch until the fall branding, leaving only a cook +and horse wrangler to be secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a +homesteader and his boy, anxious for work, and the two were engaged. + +"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. "It +gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first shipment +with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little green at first, +but they're willing, and that masters any task. We'll have to be patient +with them--we were all beginners once. Any man who ever wrestled with a +homestead ought to be able to cook." + +"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man like +settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. In the +West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability to use +baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide." + +The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. Within +a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with unerring +nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to another. The +double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their former range; but in +order to quicken the work, any beeves of that class found below were +drifted above headquarters. It was a distinct advantage to leave the +herd undisturbed, and with the first shipment drifted to one end of the +range, a small round-up or two would catch all marketable beeves. + +The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and wrangler +were initiated into their respective duties at once. The wagon was +equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and an ample mount +allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted over the saddle +stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task daunted their +numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as the work was fully +understood, the concerted efforts of all relieved him of any concern, +except in arranging the details. The ranch had fallen heir to a +complete camp kit, with the new wagon, and with a single day's +preparations, the shipping outfit stood ready to move on an +hour's notice. + +It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that Wells +Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. Sargent had +figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to execute a shipment, +and was rather impatient to try out the outfit in actual field work. + +"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a little +swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct the cook and +wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real thing." + +Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning to gather +beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp." + +"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced Sargent. +"Roll your blankets in the morning, boys." + +A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys were +impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your double-wintered +beeves on Saturday's market." + +"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The wagon +and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the messenger +order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be on +Saturday's market." + +Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier returning to +the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown out from the old +winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle rendered them lazy, +half the horsemen halted until the other sighted the grove above. As +early as advisable, the gradual circle was begun, turning the cattle +into the valley, concentrating, and by slowly edging in, the first +round-up of the day was thrown together, numbering, range run, fully six +hundred head. Two men were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell +volunteered to watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other +three to cut out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. +A short hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and when +cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was reflected +in every beef. + +The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed nearly +double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of the beeves +was made, which overran in numbers the necessary shipment. They were +extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car was the limit, and it +became necessary to trim or cull back to the desired number. Sargent and +Joel passed on every rejected beef, uniform weight being desirable, +until the shipment stood acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish. + +The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without delay. +Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, and a grazing +pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good season. The day's +work consisted in merely pointing and drifting the cattle forward, +requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help to initiate the cook and +wrangler in their field duties. Joel had been a close observer of the +apparent ease with which a cook discharged his duty, frequently halting +his wagon on a moment's notice, and easily preparing a meal for an +outfit of trail men within an hour. The main secret lay in the +foresight, in keeping his work in advance, and Joel lent every +assistance in coaching his cook to meet the emergency of any demand. + +Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of horses had +seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and attention was +called to observing each individual horse and the remuda as a whole. For +instance, in summer, a horse grazes against the breeze, and if the +remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, the wind holding from the +same quarter during the night, a practical wrangler would know where to +find his horses at dawn. The quarter of the breeze was therefore always +noted, any variation after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the +wind, turning the course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were +leaders among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy had no +fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his leave-taking was +gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling alone in the open. + +"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to the +father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer ends, he'll +know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's nothing like knowing +your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; know their spirit, know them +in health, lame and wounded. If a horse neighs at night, know why; if +one's missing in the morning, name him like you would an absent boy +at school." + +The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. The +beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep in +night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three guards +stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd off its bed +at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through the noon hours. + +An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening before +loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into the station +in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get the shipping +details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, having been +ordered on from Trail City. + +"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for a +special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a local +freight from here, but I showed him there were other train shipments to +follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another one to my old man +done the work. Those old boys know how to pull the strings. A special +train has been ordered, and you can name your own hour for leaving in +the morning. I have a man with me; send us in horses and we'll help you +corral your beeves." + +Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two horses +were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra men joined +the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. An early hour +was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in promptly, and the +first shipment of the year was cut into car lots and loaded out during a +morning hour. + +Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was noticeable +around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting for a passenger +schedule, there was billing to be done and contracts to execute, +telegrams of notification to be sent the commission firm, and general +instructions to the beef outfit. Joel and Sargent were to accompany the +shipment, and on starting, while the engineer and conductor were +comparing their running orders, Sargent called out from the rear of the +caboose:-- + +"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. "Here's +two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take some candy +home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you can have my +little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you can have all my +other playthings." + +The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned homeward. +Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and the remainder +of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. Manly had been +away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and Dell rode the range, +pending the return of the absent. Under ideal range conditions, the +cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, having rounded into form +beyond belief. + +"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the range; +"they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with a hardiness +that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they repay every debt. +Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will almost wipe the slate. +Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent +on making it that my old man simply gave in. And now you're going to +make a fortune out of these Lazy H's. No wonder us fool Texans love +a cow." + +The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only topped +the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but topped it in +price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two dollars a head!" + +Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said Joel, +"the commission firm will order the trains and send us a practical +shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to rush our +shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays to be on +time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these railroad +passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. If any one has +to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and leave the cattle +to follow." + +The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome asset. The +first consignment from the ranch gave the men a field-trial, and now +that the actual shipping season was at hand, an allotment of horses was +made. The numbers of the remuda admitted of mounting every man to the +limit, and with their first shipment a success, the men rested +impatiently awaiting orders. + +The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' later +date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for fulfillment. The +outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the evening before, and by +noon two round-ups had yielded twenty car-loads of straight Lazy H +beeves. When trimmed to their required numbers, twenty-two to the car, +they reflected credit to breeder and present owner. + +In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was no +apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at evening +and morning, brought the herd within summons of the shipping yards on +time. That the beeves might be favored, they were held outside for the +night, three miles from the corral, but an early sun found them safely +inside the shipping pens. Two hours later, the full train was en route +to market, in care of a practical shipper. + +On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to the +commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour after +the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the shipment, was +received from Mr. Stoddard. + +"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the last +cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two herds on the +market this year, one at Trail City and the other at Ogalalla, and he +may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You have a pass; you can +catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake the cattle train in time to +see the beeves unloaded." + +"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling through his +pockets for the forgotten pass. + +"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, single +ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. Same range, +same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly safe in buying them +unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought last year, with the +advantage of a better season on the trail. All you need to do is to +agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are as honest as gold and +twice as good." + +"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with decision. +"If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train from the Lazy +H's. I'll be back in a day or two." + +Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. At dusk +he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market yards on schedule +time. The shipper's duty ceased with the unloading of the cattle, which +was easily completed before midnight, when he and his employer +separated. The market would not open until a late morning hour, +affording ample time to rest and refresh the beeves, and to look up +acquaintances in the office. + +Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first stir of +the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even arrived, he +was hanging around the office of the commission firm. The expected +shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm much earlier than +usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. Mr. Stoddard was +summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the hearty greeting between +the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual occupation. + +The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an interested +party left the commission office and sauntered forth to watch the beeves +cross the scale. It was the parting look of breeder, owner, and factor, +and when the average weight was announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to +the others. + +"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you last +summer?" + +"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel. + +"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the boys +who matured them. I must be an old fogy." + +"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission house. +"Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To be sure, +as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man can raise a +frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers aren't afraid of +a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the lion's share falls +to them." + +"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially quoted +the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly to your +northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse your Uncle +Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree." + +"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old factor. + +"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story that is +told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. He's my +customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day." + +The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each beef +was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the letter of +the bond, and each party to the contract respected his obligation. + +After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard and Joel +wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to find all +accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. The second +shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, and when the +canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned to the senior +member of the firm. + +"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same price +and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This quarantine raises +havoc with delivery." + +"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked the +senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist on a rigid +enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle cattle, and any +north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of health. If that's all +that stands in the way of a trade, our firm will use its good offices." + +"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take your +herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on the +Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. This firm +is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," he concluded, +turning to the member present. + +"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any confidence +reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the quarantine +authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he requested, turning to +a map and indicating the shipping station. + +Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. The +Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the north, with +unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado. + +"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the only +cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the bill of +health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry in your +other shipments, and the railroad can use its influence--it'll want +cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be restocked." + +There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was sent to +Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the beef outfit, to +hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home that night, and the +next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from the Beaver, with a +perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It was early harvest on the +cattle ranges, and those who were favored with marketable beef were +eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall shipments. + +The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report provoked +argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men lounged around +the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit. + +"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the lads from +the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle without seeing +them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not this one of old man +Vivian's boys! Oh, no!" + +"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. "Your +view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your tickets +cost somewhere between four and six bits." + +Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, gazed at +the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how your folks +bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow is a cow, a steer +is a steer, according to his age, and so on down to the end of the +alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and there's no occasion for +seeing them. If you are laboring under the idea that my old man would +use any deception to sell a herd, you have another guess coming. He'd +rather lose his right hand than to misrepresent the color of a cow. He's +as jealous of his cattle as a miller is of his flour. These boys are his +customers, last fall, this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he +wanted them, Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen." + +The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on schedule +time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the side track, and +an engine and crew could be summoned on a few hours' notice. If +corralled the night before, passing trains were liable to excite the +beeves, and thereafter it became the usual custom to hold outside and +safely distant. + +The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping operations. +Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at sunrise on the +morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started homeward. + +"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," said Joel +to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch at headquarters. +Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make camp at the lower +tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of Lazy H's. The rest of +the outfit will follow, once these cattle are loaded out. You might have +a late supper awaiting us--about ten o'clock to-night." + +The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut into car +lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the loading began. +A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the dusty horsemen +mounted and clattered into the straggling hamlet. + +The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the first +running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful lunch. The +horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again took up their +former road gait. An evening halt was made on the Prairie Dog, where an +hour's grazing was again allowed, the time being wholly devoted to +looking into the future. + +"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining his +plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this creek, in +case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered nook, cache a +little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the cattle break the +line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning and check them. It +beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a twenty-mile start. We +could lash our blankets on a pack horse and ride it night or day." + +"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could almost +eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is surely a +meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef shipping's on in full +blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting on the Beaver." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LIVING IN THE SADDLE + + +The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning horsemen +safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for the task of +the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment would come from the +flotsam of the year before, many of which were heavy beeves, intended +for army delivery, but had fallen footsore on the long, drouthy march. +The past winter had favored the lame and halt, and after five months of +summer, the bulk of them had matured into finished beef. + +By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers were +enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were kept, but +had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have rendered a +statement from memory of returns on the double and single wintered, as +well as on the purchased cattle. Sale statements were furnished by the +commission house, and by filing these, an account of the year's +shipments, each brand separate, could be made up at the end of +the season. + +The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, was now +happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as their +portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose the class of +cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The range had proven +itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter would carry only +sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings of cattle. + +"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at breakfast, "I'd +stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter every hoof. Look +over those sale statements and you'll see what two winters mean. That +first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, and yet they netted seven +dollars a head less than those rag-tag, double-wintered ones. There's a +waste that must be saved hereafter." + +"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof that has +the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three two-year-old steers +to take his place. It may take another year or two to shape up our +cattle, but after that, every hoof must be double-wintered." + +An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the first +round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves without any +excitement was fully understood, and to gather a shipment without +disturbing those remaining was a task that required patience and +intelligence. Men on the outside circle merely turned the cattle on the +extremes of the range; they were followed by inner horsemen, and the +drag-net closed at a grazing pace, until the round-up halted on a +few acres. + +The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last course in +the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a mixed round-up. +On the present work, those horses which had proven apt were held in +reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle was quieting down, the +remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to four cutting horses. The +average cow can dodge and turn quicker than the ordinary horse, and only +a few of the latter ever combine action and intelligence to outwit the +former. Cunning and ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a +perfect rein, coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of +range mounts--the cutting horse. + +Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent took him +in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered the herd. "Now, +I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you cut them out. All you +need to do is to rein that horse down on your beef, and he'll take him +out of the herd. Of course you'll help the horse some little; but if you +let too many back, I'll call our wrangler and try him out. That horse +knows the work just as well as you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over +your beef." + +The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, and only +a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. Dell made a +record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an hour, and only +letting one reënter the herd. The latter was a pony-built beef, and +after sullenly leaving the herd, with the agility of a cat, he whirled +right and left on the space of a blanket, and beat the horse back into +the round-up. Sargent lent a hand on the second trial, and when the beef +saw that resistance was useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away +to join those selected for shipment. + +"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you out. +Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit horse could +turn him. And he showed you." + +"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the herd, +quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef reaches the +edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop out like +door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as rigid as ropes, +and he touches the ground as if he was walking on eggs. Look at him now; +goes poking along as if he was half asleep." + +"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you can +strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your steer, +that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king pin--that's +royalty." + +A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of beeves. +They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require reclassing +before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish were fully up to +standard, but the manner in which they were acquired left them uneven, +their ages varying from four to seven years. + +"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves had +been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. Instead of +five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this year's shipment +from crumbs will net you double that amount. The first gathering of beef +will square the account with every thirsty cow you watered last summer." + +An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The shipment +must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within half a mile of +the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and Sargent. The +contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and in order to have +them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be cut into a class by +themselves, leaving the remainder neat and uniform. A careful hour's +work resulted in seven car-loads of extra heavy beeves, which were +corralled separately and in advance of the others, completing a long day +in the saddle. + +Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A permit from +the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due to the influence +of the commission house and others, admitting the through herd, then en +route from Ogalalla. The grant required a messenger to meet the herd +without delay, and Dell volunteered his services as courier. Darkness +fell before supper was over and the messenger ready. + +"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his brother, +"and those through cattle can come in the day we gather our last train. +We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't reached the +Republican, push ahead until you meet it." + +A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the herd to +follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite our +middle tank?" + +"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count and +receive them." + +Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely home +to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon to-morrow. +If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll drop down on +you in a day and a half." + +The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and advice +followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the others threw +themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning found the outfit +astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon and remuda were +started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping instructions were +merely a repetition of previous consignments, and the train had barely +left the station when the cavalcade rode to overtake the commissary. + +The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest was +allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the cook and +wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below headquarters. +We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the creek. Our only +round-up to-morrow will be well above the old winter corral. It's our +last gathering of beef, and we want to make a general round-up of the +range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so that it'll be late when we +reach camp." + +The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted the +Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that spring, was +less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering off there, the +drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and a general drift +begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits of the range, pointed +the cattle into the valley, and by moving forward and converging as the +evening advanced, a general drift was maintained. The pace was barely +that of grazing, and as darkness approached, all cattle on the lower end +of the range were grazed safely above the night camp and left adrift. + +The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and threes. +There was little danger of the cattle returning to their favorite range +during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an early hour in the +morning the drag-net was again thrown out from camp. Headquarters was +passed before the horsemen began encountering any quantity of cattle, +and after passing the old winter corral, the men on the points of the +half-circle were sent to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the +middle of the forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle +naturally turned into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete +circles brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle. + +Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner was +waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders rang out. +"Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh horses," said +Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and cutting out will +be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the beeves, and that will turn +the rest of us free to watch the round-up and cut out." + +By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to cut out +the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, while Sargent +and an assistant would confine their selections to the single-wintered +ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally his own work, even +car-loads were required, and a total would constitute the shipment. The +cutting out began quietly; but after a nucleus of beeves were selected, +their numbers gained at the rate of three to five a minute, while the +sweat began to reek from the horses. + +Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his services +to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was relieved from +guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of Manly. A steady +stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a comparison of figures was +made. Manly was limited to one hundred and twenty head, completing an +even thousand shipped from the brand, and lacking four, was allowed to +complete his number. Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim +the general herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was +all that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference resulted +in cutting two loads extra. + +"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said Sargent, as he +dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. "Any aged steers +left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their way to hold another +year. Turn the round-up adrift." + +After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general herd up +the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in corralling +his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the beeves were +grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a night at headquarters +in some time, the wagon serving as a substitute, and orders for evening +freed all hands except two men on herd with the beeves. + +The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel and +Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting the main +herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and relieved from +further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, were arranged for the +night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up the creek and freed near +Hackberry Grove, and on returning to overtake the beeves, the two +horsemen crossed a spur of the tableland, jutting into the valley, +affording a perfect view of the surrounding country. + +With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to a halt. +Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the plain, hung an +ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a glance. + +Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the Republican," +said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from Ogalalla. The +pitch of their dust shows they're trailing south." + +The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running train +and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a distance, pitches +upward from a horizon line, and the moving direction of train or herd is +easily read by an observant plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed +on reaching headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, +the latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the +new trail. + +The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. He +protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, even to +looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said he, "and it's +up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering around all summer +with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, I'll take orders from no +one. We made rather a forced drive from the Republican, and I want a +good night's rest for both the herd and myself. Ten o'clock in the +morning will be early enough to tender the cattle for delivery. In the +mean time, our pilot, the red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. +As for myself, I'm going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls +or wakes me in the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a +right smart of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling." + +Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the herd in +presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves were grazed +up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged for the night, +which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a matter of precaution, a +dead-line must be maintained between the wintered and the through +cattle; and as Manly was to remain another year, he and an assistant +were detailed to stay at headquarters. A reduced mount of horses was +allowed them, and starting the beeves at daybreak, the wagon and remuda +followed several hours later. + +The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon when the +through herd was reached, grazed and watered to surfeiting, and a single +glance satisfied Joel Wells that the cattle fully met every requirement. +The question of age was disposed of as easily as that of quality. + +"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the foreman, +"and each age was held separate until the herds were made up. I started +with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, with ten head +extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our count on leaving +Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing to class or count +them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the herd." + +Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the scattered +cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a straight +count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived his intent to +classify the cattle. + +"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm going to +class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and Manly count +against Sargent and myself." + +A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing formation, +the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the open the +difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance in quieting +the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and the count +attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off a number of +the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. Thereafter, the trail +outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, who sat their horses in +speechless intensity, as the column filed through at random. Each man +used a string, containing ten knots, checking the hundreds by slipping +the knots, and when the last hoof had passed in review, the quiet of a +long hour was relieved by a general shout, when the trail outfit dashed +up to know the result. + +"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as the +quartette rode together. + +"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in for good +measure. What's your count?" + +"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered Sargent, +turning to Joel. + +"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy. + +The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young fellow," said +he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. If you bought these +cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be safe in receiving them. +We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and fifteen hundred threes, and +any overplus falls to the red-headed pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud +would call a Texas count and classification. Shake out your horses; +dinner's waiting." + +There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an assistant, and +an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of whom volunteered from +the through outfit. The foreman was invited to move up to headquarters +and rest to his heart's content, but in his anxiety to report to his +employer, the invitation was declined. + +"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the railroad +until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do is to get in +touch with my Uncle Dudley." + +"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" sputtered Manly, +as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the beef herd. + +"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If this +shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City and pick +up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. Until you see +or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your cattle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INDEPENDENCE + + +The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the beeves. +Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, and on the +arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in classifying it +for market and corralling the different grades of cattle. + +Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment was +safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the morning. +An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a wire from the +west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the telegram to Joel; +"wants all three of us to come into the city." + +"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear enough. +There's an understanding between us. At the earliest convenience, after +the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and draw up the final papers. +We'll all go in with this shipment." + +"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?" + +"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the cattle +train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the outfits at +the new trail market." + +"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of riding +horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and let me put +my little feet under a table once more." + +The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The outfits +received their orders, and at the usual hour in the morning, the +shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a saddle, Dell was +walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper in charge, riding on +the engine, or hungering for the rare stories with which the trail +foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed like a brief hour, the +train threading its way past corn fields, country homes, and scorning to +halt at the many straggling villages that dotted the route. + +It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The present, +their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen hundred +beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their operations in +cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, could be condensed +into a simple statement. The brothers could barely wait the intervening +hours, and when the train reached the market and they had retired for +the night, speculation ran rife in planning the future. And amid all +their dreams and air castles, in the shadowy background stood two simple +men whose names were never mentioned except in terms of loving +endearment. + +Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. "They're all +good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a prince. He gave us our +start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we can never pay it. And he +never owned a hoof himself." + +"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us our +chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of making bound +boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are to-day." + +"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves by the +train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand." + +An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had crossed +the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place during the +afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. The execution of +a new contract was a mere detail; but when the chief bookkeeper handed +in a statement covering the shipments of this and the previous year, a +lull in the gayety was followed by a moment of intense interest. The +account showed a balance of sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of +Wells Brothers! + +"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. Stoddard, +amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; we're all going out +to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains on that market, and the +boys want to stock their range fully." + +"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. "And if +the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't hesitate to +draw on us. The manner in which they have protected their credit +entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come first. Their +prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies before you boys, and +we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in touch with us; we may +hear of something to your advantage." + +"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring Texas cattle +into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel. + +"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not be able +to, but in securing business, railroads look years ahead." + +A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning found +their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old trail market +of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild sunflower, was +passed like a way station. The new market was only a mile over the state +line, in Colorado, and on nearing their destination the party +drew together. + +"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, "and I want +you to understand that there's no obligation to even look at them. Mr. +Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men have not been seen +since the herds passed north in June. But I'll help you buy any cattle +you want." + +In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following their +fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape up our +holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For that reason, we +prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your remnant; there would be +no occasion to rebrand, which is an advantage." + +The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the outer +portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. The Arkansas +River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to the main stream, +affording abundant water to the herds on sale, while a bountiful range +surrounded the market. Shipping pens, branding chutes, and every +facility for handling cattle were complete. + +The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean time, it +became rumored about that the two boys who had returned with Mr. +Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of cattle. The +presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of protection around the +brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who were made acquainted with +his protégés and their errand freely discussed. + +"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a group of +his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and another at +Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest Kansas. Just +shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had them on +yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about three +thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter of credit is +good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle myself. They +naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an interest in the boys. +Their outfit ought to be in by to-morrow." + +Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, and every +attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a morning's +drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been carefully looked +over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only a few herds possessed +their original numbers, none of which were acceptable to the buyers, +while the smaller ones frequently contained the desired grade and age. + +"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. Stoddard, +in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are tired out, +disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if you'll buy out our +little remnants and send us home--well, we'd almost let you name the +price. Unless my herds are under contract, this is my last year on +the trail." + +The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred head. +They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and as an +inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser age, and +priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the Beaver. On +range markets, there was a difference in the selling value of the two +ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as one third of the cattle +would have classed as threes, Joel waived his objection to their ages. + +"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your outfits +home, but you hang around until we make up our herd." + +"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice would be +to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer makes them all +alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come out of the kinks, +and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps your cattle quiet and on +the home range. You might keep an eye open for any bargains in +she stuff." + +"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought to have +a cow to every ten or fifteen steers." + +"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and knows cattle +right down to the split in their hoof. With his and your judgment, we +ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few days." + +The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The next +morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the through +outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a detail, and the +remainder of the men sent home by rail. In acquiring a nucleus, Wells +Brothers fell heir to a temporary range and camp, which thereafter +became their headquarters. + +A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to Sargent, +and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his best efforts to +bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in earnest, on the +different fragments acceptable in age and quality. Prices on range +cattle were nearly standard, at least established for the present, and +any yielding on the part of drovers was in classing and conceding ages. +Bargaining began on the smaller remnants, and once the buyers began to +receive and brand, there was a flood of offerings, and the herd was made +up the second day. The ---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast +as received, and when completed, the herd numbered a few over +thirty-four hundred head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings +was not overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased. + +"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but we're only +going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had better hold +over the line in Colorado until after the first frost." + +"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's sure." + +"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that will take +us home, with or without a bill of health." + +The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and the herd +started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week later it crossed +the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the herd, returning to their +local station. A haying outfit was engaged, placed under the direction +of Manly, and after spending a few days at headquarters, the young +cowman returned to the railroad. + +The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight danger in +using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; and after a +conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the country between +their range and the Colorado line. The first herd of cattle had located +nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the dead-line; and taking a +pack horse, Joel and Manly started to explore the country between the +upper tributaries of the Beaver and the Colorado line. + +A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of the first +day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of which was +back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On resuming their scout +in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, admitting of an immense survey +of country, but not until evening was water in any quantity encountered. +The scouts were beginning to despair of finding water for the night, +when an immense herd of antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an +easy gallop and disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game +trail, a perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. +A venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured. + +The glare of the plain required early observation. The white haze, heat +waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out distinct objects +during the day. On leaving the friendly sand hills, the horsemen bore +directly for the timber on the Republican, which was sighted the third +morning, and reached the river by noon. + +No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the new and +old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging from their +hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new crossing on the +river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented observations; and as +they followed the high ground along the Republican, at early evening +indistinct objects were made out on the border of a distant mirage. + +The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the optical +illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, forests and +white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn aside and rest. But +the allurement of the mirage was an old story, and holding the objects +in view, they jogged on, halting from time to time as the +illusions lifted. + +Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, the +objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted Manly. +"We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!" + +"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the valley! +above that motte of cotton-woods!" + +"It's a camp! Come on!" + +The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the scouts +advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was noticeable, and on a +far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. On reaching the cattle, a +single glance was given, when the brands told the remainder of +the story. + +A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, and after +hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: "After leaving +the Republican," said he, "there's water between here and home in two +places. None of them are over thirty miles apart--a day and a half's +drive. I have a bill of health for these cattle, and turn the herd down +the river in the morning." + +The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. The herd +had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water in abundance, +the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from home. There was no +object in waiting any great distance from headquarters, and after a +day's travel down the Republican, a tack was made for the sand hills. + +A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, followed by +a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had been sighted was +reached at evening the next day. + +It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was decided to +isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp was within easy +touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five men, the commissary, +and half the remuda, the remainder returned to the Beaver valley. The +water would hold the cattle, and even if a month elapsed before frost +lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy every freedom. + +The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the Republican +were paid for their services, commended for their faithfulness, and went +their way. Preparations for winter were the next concern; and while +holding the dead-line, plans for two new line-camps were outlined, one +below the old trail crossing and the other an emergency shelter on the +Prairie Dog. Forage had been provided at both points, and in outlining +the winter lines, Joel submitted his idea for Manly's approval. + +"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the Beaver +valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his feet. "We'll +have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break through during a +storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the Prairie Dog. In case +that line is broken, we can drop down to the railroad and make another +attempt to check any drift. And as a last resort, whether we hold the +line or not, we'll send an outfit as far south as the Arkansas River, +and attend the spring round-ups from there north to the Republican. We +have the horses and men, and no one can throw out a wider drag-net than +our outfit. Let the winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead +when spring comes." + +The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except in its +new environment, their occupation was as old as the human race, our +heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They belonged to a +period in the development of our common country, dating from a day when +cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth of our national domain. They +and their kind were our pioneers, our empire builders; for when a cowman +pushed into some primal valley and possessed it with his herd, his ranch +became an outpost on our frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their +ranges were controlled without investment, their cattle roamed the +virgin pastures of an unowned land. + +Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the course +of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and uncertain +outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but have arisen +triumphant over every storm. From their humble beginning, chronicled +here, within two decades the brothers acquired no less than seven +ranches in the Northwest, while their holdings of cattle often ran in +excess of one hundred thousand head. The trail passed away within two +years of the close of this narrative; but from their wide acquaintance +with former drovers, cattle with which to restock their ranches were +brought north by rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring +trusty men; and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors +found ready employment with their former protégés. And to-day, in the +many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the arid +regions, among the directors of their companies the names of J.Q. +Forrest and John P. Priest may be found. + +A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis of the +West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, gave way to +the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler crept up the valley, +was repulsed again and again by the plain, only to renew his assault +until success crowned his efforts. It was then that the brothers saw +their day and dominion passing into the hands of another. But instead of +turning to new fields, they remained with the land that nurtured and +rewarded them, an equally promising field opening in financing vast +irrigation enterprises and in conserving the natural water supply. + +Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes wrested from +the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of life, while the +opportunities of a thrifty country invite their assistance and +leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested in every +development of their state, preferring those avenues where heroic +endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the political arena. + +Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure of +personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, famed +for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, paid one of +our heroes the following tribute:-- + +"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive chair. We +are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state seems adrift, +without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In casting about for a +governor who would fully meet all requirements, one name stands alone. +Joel Wells can give M---- a business administration. Educated in the +rough school of experience, he has fought his way up from a poor boy on +the plains to an enviable leadership in the many industries of the +state. He could bring to the executive office every requirement of the +successful business man, and impart to his administration that mastery +which marks every enterprise of Wells Brothers...." + +The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to adorn +this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his chance in +life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. Material nature is +prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass under our feet, or in +harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our success. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12791 *** diff --git a/12791-h/12791-h.htm b/12791-h/12791-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c1840e --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/12791-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7345 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +p.caption {font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12791 ***</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0001-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0001-1.jpg" width="700" height="487" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON.</p> +</div> + +<h1>WELLS BROTHERS</h1> + +<h2>THE YOUNG CATTLE KINGS</h2> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>ANDY ADAMS</h3> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="350" height="314" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<h4><i>Published March 1911</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">III. THE BOTTOM RUNG</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">V. A FALL OF CRUMBS</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_X">X. GOOD FIGHTING</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI. HOLDING THE FORT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII. A WINTER DRIFT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII. A WELCOME GUEST</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV. AN ILL WIND</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV. WATER! WATER!</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII. "THE WAGON"</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII. INDEPENDENCE</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0001-1.jpg">THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0106-1.jpg">JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0164-1.jpg">DELL WELLS.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0310-1.jpg">THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY.</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>WELLS BROTHERS</h2> + +<h2>THE YOUNG CATTLE KINGS</h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>WAIFS OF THE PLAIN</h3> + +<p>The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for +the Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran +drover, Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway +between the former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious +mishap befell Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and +the horse wrangler, who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, +reckless to the point of injury, the pulse of healthy manhood +beating a constant alarm to rough contest.</p> +<p>The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had +overtaken the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. +During the evening, a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when +the stranger expressed a wish to secure a specimen of the bird for +its splendid plumage. On Forrest's own suggestion, his being a +long-range pistol and the covey wary, the two exchanged belts. The +visitor followed the flock, stealing within range a number of +times, and emptying the six-shooter at every chance. On securing a +fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the herd, elated over +his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before returning the +belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of five +cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and +pistol were returned to their owner.</p> +<p>Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while +the outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in +pastoral contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the +morning's work, when the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly +remarked: "If everybody's ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; +it's high time we were in the saddle. Of course, that means the +parting tussle between Quince and the wrangler. It would be a shame +to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- they remind me so much +of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in and worry each other +a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. Fly at it, or we +mount."</p> +<p>The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the +men swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility +of a tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him +to the ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had +barely time to turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the +two crashed against the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was +discharged. The men dismounted instantly, the wrangler eased the +victim to the ground, and when the outfit gathered around, the +former was smothering the burning clothing of his friend and +bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was the first +indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found that +the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground.</p> +<p>The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular +remarks of the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly +recalled to the surrounding group, while the negligence which +caused the accident was politely suppressed. The stranger, +innocently unaware of any mistake on his part, lent a valuable hand +in stanching the blood and in washing and binding up the wounds. No +bones were injured, and with youth and a buoyant constitution, +there was every hope of recovery.</p> +<p>However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No +one could recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican +River, unless down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the +visitor came to the rescue. He was positive that some two years +before, an old soldier had taken a homestead five or six miles +above the trail crossing on the Beaver. He was insistent, and the +foreman yielded so far as to order the herd grazed forward to the +Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in their front. All the +blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought into use, in making +a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan started, carrying +the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, the foreman +bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek.</p> +<p>The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be +correct. About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, +fringed with willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which +the homestead was located. The presence of the willows was an +indication of old beaver dams, which the settler had improved until +the water stood in long, placid pools. In response to their hail, +two boys, about fourteen and sixteen years of age, emerged from the +dug-out and greeted the horsemen. On inquiry, it proved that their +father had died during the previous winter, at a settlement on the +Solomon River, and the boys were then confronted with the necessity +of leaving the claim to avoid suffering want. It was also learned +that their mother had died before their father had taken the +homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight their own +battle.</p> +<p>The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were +bright-eyed and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. +Joel was the oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by +nature, with a shock of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in +height, the younger was the equal of his brother, talkative, and +frank in countenance. When made acquainted with the errand of the +trail boss, the older boy shook his head, but Dell stepped forward: +"Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of his hand, "but our garden +failed, and there won't be a dozen roasting-ears in that field of +corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it might make fodder. We expect +to pull out next week."</p> +<p>"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman.</p> +<p>"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's +pension was stopped. You see--"</p> +<p>"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can +help each other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter +and nurse this wounded man of mine--"</p> +<p>"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the +sooner we get out and find work the better."</p> +<p>"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail +man, now aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a +quarter of beef."</p> +<p>"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh +meat."</p> +<p>"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave +the money with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, +I'll unload my wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. +I can get more provision at the Republican River, and in the mean +time, something may turn up."</p> +<p>The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the +necessity of accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every +suggestion, but his brother was tactful, questioning and combating +the men, and looking well to the future. A cold and unfriendly +world, coupled with misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his +years, while the younger one was sympathetic, trustful, and +dependent.</p> +<p>"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," +said Dell to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in +time for corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth +fifty cents."</p> +<p>"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this +wounded man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell +how soldiers died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we +have to go, we might as well go at once."</p> +<p>According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the +wayfaring man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good +Samaritan, the older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with +enthusiasm at the opportunity of rendering every assistance.</p> +<p>"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, +but it's because we're so poor and have nothing to offer."</p> +<p>"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let +me do the rest."</p> +<p>"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?"</p> +<p>"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll +leave two good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you +need to do is to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and +simply tell them you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don +Lovell's boys, and you can levy on them for all they have. It's +high time you were getting acquainted with these trail outfits. +Shelter this man of mine, and all will come out well in the end. +Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you boys, and he might take +you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, and he might take a +fancy to you two."</p> +<p>Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two +brothers reëntered the dug-out, and the men led their horses +down to the creek for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood +inside a wooden corral, a rickety wagon and a few rusty farming +implements were scattered about, while over all the homestead was +the blight of a merciless summer drouth.</p> +<p>"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail +boss to the stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this +water and range, in a few years they would be independent men. No +wonder that oldest boy is cautious. Just look around and see the +reward of their father's and their own labor. Their very home +denies them bread."</p> +<p>"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, +"when you suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only +argument that touched him."</p> +<p>"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have +several cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs +and the like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make +their hungry hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest +would make the ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving +them each a saddle pony; argue the matter, and try and win me +over."</p> +<p>The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when +scarcely halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to +meet them. "If you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," +earnestly said the boy, "we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to +be feverish at night, and ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can +sleep outside or in the stable."</p> +<p>"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter +I'll bet my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? +Why, you can have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the +outfit. I have a rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I +have a lurking suspicion that there are a few genuine goose-hair +pillows in the outfit, and you may pick and choose. They are all +yours for the asking."</p> +<p>The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for +entering the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. +When all agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their +horses, promising to fulfill their part of the covenant that +afternoon or evening.</p> +<p>Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is +all right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he +tried to shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. +Hereafter, in dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The +death of his parents has developed a responsibility in the older +boy which the younger one doesn't feel. That's about all the +difference in the two lads. You must deal gently with Joel, and +never offend him or expose his needs."</p> +<p>"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's +the name of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home +with those boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a +week he'll have those youngsters walking on clouds."</p> +<p>The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a +dust cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then +hidden behind the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On +every hand the undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and +the men rode forward at a leisurely pace.</p> +<p>"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail +foreman, arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. +This government ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, +robbing children, orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a +fair sample of the skin game the government's running--bets you one +hundred and sixty acres against fourteen dollars you can't hold +down a homestead for five years. And big as the odds look, in nine +cases out of ten, in this country, the government wins. It ought to +be convicted on general principles. Men are not to be pitied, but +it's a crime against women and children."</p> +<p>"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the +stranger; "you would kick if you were being hung. There's good in +everything. A few years of youthful poverty, once they reach +manhood, isn't going to hurt those boys. The school of experience +has its advantages."</p> +<p>"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next +few years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. +"Now, there's the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and +select a good camp, well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet +the commissary and herd. We'll have to lay over this afternoon, +which will admit of watering the herd twice to-day. Try and find +some shade."</p> +<p>The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman +hailed his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and +reported securing a haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook +to watch for a signal, at the hands of the stranger, indicating a +camp on the creek, he turned and awaited the arrival of the lead +cattle of the trailing column. Issuing orders to cover the +situation, he called off half the men, first veering the herd to +the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon and saddle +horses.</p> +<p>Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long +pool. A hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which +a tarpaulin was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered +canopy. Amid a fire of questions, the wounded man was lifted from +the wagon.</p> +<p>"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said +he appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there +is, I ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can +see your eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me +peevish. I want to feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, +tell it all over once more."</p> +<p>The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which +the foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and +making valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their +guest while he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after +the accident, by insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the +boys and bespeaking their protection.</p> +<p>The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew +that the hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the +same. "Very well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my +calf that's gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every +stranger that comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly +cow hands." He hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he +continued, "about this nester layout is those red-headed boys. And +these two are just about petting age. I can almost see them eating +sugar out of my hand."</p> +<p>After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of +medical aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had +returned and reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately +the destination of the stranger was a settlement on the Republican +River, and he volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night +and secure a surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile +calls. The owner of the herd, had he been present, would have +insisted on medical attention, the wounded man reluctantly +consented, and the stranger, carrying a hastily written letter to +Mr. Lovell, took his departure.</p> +<p>Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, +but in a roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the +one-room shack was bountifully provisioned, while the foreman +remained to await the arrival of a physician. The day had brought +forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from the dark hour of want to the +dawn of plenty, while the future was a sealed book. In addition to +the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung in the sod stable, while +two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the questioning boys.</p> +<p>"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as +their backs were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see +they are unfit for saddle, but with a little attention can be +cured--I'll show you how. You have an abundance of water, and after +I leave, wash their backs, morning and evening, and they'll be well +in a month. Since you are running a trail hospital, you want to +cater to man and beast. Of course, if you boys nurse this man +through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal to Mr. Lovell +to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case you return +to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here."</p> +<p>The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The +transformation seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was +toned and tempered by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day +had filled empty hearts with happiness, and when darkness fell, the +boys threw off all former reserve, and the bond of host and guest +was firmly established. Forrest, even, cemented the tie, by +dividing any needful attention between the boys.</p> +<p>"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the +presence of the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest +one Doc and the youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them +just plain Joel and Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor +bright, I never met a boy who can pour water on a wound, that seems +to go to the right spot, like Dell Wells. One day with another, +give me a red-headed boy."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER</h3> + +<p>The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in +the tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to +pouring water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had +reached a swollen condition by morning, and considerable anxiety +was felt over the uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned +the previous evening, it was possible that one might arrive by +noon, otherwise there was no hope before evening or during the +night.</p> +<p>"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor +comes from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and +save an hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to +the first divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it +when he went to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the +doctor a six or seven mile drive."</p> +<p>"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the +trail foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can +post the boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this +afternoon or evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the +stirrup straps on Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?"</p> +<p>"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired +the horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now +that a chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. +"Why, I can follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used +to go halfway to the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new +boots."</p> +<p>"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient +seems to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there +will be plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share."</p> +<p>The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after +the horse stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object +lesson to the boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting +the horse to be fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell +was allowed to ride past the tent for inspection.</p> +<p>"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell +halted before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think +that that boy was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle +poise, will you, Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is +slightly sun-burned. We must get him some boots. With that red +hair, he never ought to ride any other horse than a black +stallion."</p> + +<p>When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent +to intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided +the matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply +can't spare Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, +and we'll have to give it an occasional rubbing to keep the +circulation up. There's where Dell has the true touch; actually he +reminds me of my mother. She could tie a rag around a sore toe, in +a way that would make a boy forget all his trouble. Hold Joel a +minute."</p> +<p>The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded +man, and when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he +continued: "Now, Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with +you. Show them the brand on that horse you're riding, and give them +distinctly to understand, even if you are barefooted, that you are +one of Don Lovell's men. Of course you don't know him, but with +that old man, it's love me, love my dog. Get your dinner with the +outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the south. There's liable to +be another herd along any day, and we'll need a cow."</p> +<p>Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of +age; neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts +went out in manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the +other hand, a day had brought forth promise and fulfillment, from +strangers, to the boys, until the latter's confidence knew no +bounds. At random, the men virtually spoke of the cattle on a +thousand hills, until the boys fully believed that by merely waving +a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow walk forth. Where two +horses were promised, four had appeared. Where their little store +of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been multiplied many +fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with intrusion, a +tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, had risen +out of a dip in the plain.</p> +<p>There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any +discourtesy to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman +saddled his horse and accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully +reviewing the details of his errand. Left behind, and while rubbing +the wounded limb, Dell regaled his patient with a scrap of family +history. "Pa never let us boys go near the trail," said he. "It +seemed like he was afraid of you Texas men; afraid your cattle +would trample down our fields and drink up all our water. The herds +were so big."</p> +<p>"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, +"the owner would pay for it, which would be better than letting it +go to waste. One day's hot winds would absorb more water than the +biggest herd of cattle could drink. This ain't no farming +country."</p> +<p>"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this +season, and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me +rub your knee, there where the bullet skipped, between the +bandages."</p> +<p>The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning +farming for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," +said he, "was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given +them the water, with or without price, and bought any cripples or +sore-footed cattle. Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle +on these long drives, and he could have bought them for a song and +sung it himself. The buffalo grass on the divides and among these +sand hills is the finest winter grazing in the country. This water +that you are wasting would have yearly earned you one hundred head +of cripples. A month's rest on this creek and they would kick up +their heels and play like calves. After one winter on this range, +they would get as fat as plover. Your father missed his chance by +not making friends with the Texas trail men."</p> +<p>"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell.</p> +<p>"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, +you and Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. +Cast your bread upon the waters."</p> +<p>"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There +was a marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the +trail boss cantered up to the tent.</p> +<p>"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a +dim trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to +have built a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle +trail. In case the doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent +orders to fly a flag at the junction, and Joel to return home. But +if the doctor doesn't reach there until after darkness, he'll never +see the flag, and couldn't follow the trail if he did. We'll have +to send Joel back."</p> +<p>"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; +build it in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the +road."</p> +<p>"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to +Dell, "but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse +and turn him in the corral."</p> +<p>The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came +riding in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the +herd, a flag had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other +instructions delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance +to the ford on the Republican, and could figure to an hour, by +different saddle gaits, the necessary time to cover the distance, +even to Culbertson. Still there was a measure of uncertainty: the +messenger might have lost his way; there might not have been any +physician within call; accidents might have happened to horse or +rider,--and one hour wore away, followed by another.</p> +<p>Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six +o'clock. "It's my intention to follow him within an hour," said the +foreman, as the boy rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build +the fire as well as any one, and we'll return before midnight. +That'll give the doctor the last minute and the benefit of every +doubt."</p> +<p>The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over +the valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the +neigh of a horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers +when he sights a wagon or camp. Dell's come."</p> +<p>Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a +buckboard following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle +rattled up, led by the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a +battery of artillery. "This is the place, Doctor," said he, as if +dismissing a troop from cavalry drill.</p> +<p>The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had +left Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team +at the ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles +since sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," +said he, as he entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to +do. Your men with the herd told me how the accident happened." Then +to Forrest, "Son, think it'll ever happen again?"</p> +<p>"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," +replied Forrest.</p> +<p>"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: +they usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," +commented the doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the +examination proceeded, there was a running comment maintained, +bordering on the humorous.</p> +<p>"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would +allow the boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short +lecture on the danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a +loaded cartridge. The boys are young and may take the lesson +seriously, but you're wasting good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm +an old dog."</p> +<p>"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued +the doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. +There's an occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but +that's not in my department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry +for muscle, but fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is +just a simple case of treatment and avoiding complications. Six +weeks to two months and you can buckle on your six-shooter again. +Hereafter, better wear it on the other side, and if another +accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in each leg and level you +up."</p> +<p>"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," +protested Forrest.</p> +<p>"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with +a quiet wink at the others.</p> +<p>The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the +boys. Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance +of making friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the +purchase of disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the +boys were snugly in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd +to-day?--afraid of the cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former +subject was exhausted.</p> +<p>"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of +his bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other +folks."</p> +<p>Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not +shooting and galloping their horses?"</p> +<p>"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a +shot fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a +hair, and they changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I +could see, they wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely +cowboys, because they had over three thousand big beeves, and had +come all the way from Texas."</p> +<p>"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment.</p> +<p>"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The +column of cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city +street, and the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of +their own accord. Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no +one as much as looked at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. +The herd seemed so easy to handle."</p> +<p>"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell.</p> +<p>"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for +their places. Those in the lead were <i>point</i> men, those in the +middle were <i>swing</i> men, and the one who brought up the rear +was the <i>drag</i> man. Then there was the cook, who drove the +wagon, and the wrangler, who took care of the horses--over one +hundred and forty head. They call the band of saddle horses the +remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for relay--a relay of +horses."</p> +<p>"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would +buy us a cow from the next herd that passed."</p> +<p>"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the +Yellowstone River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the +smartest cattle! An hour before noon one of the point men gave a +shrill whistle, and the whole column of beeves turned aside and +began feeding. The men called it 'throwing the herd off the trail +to graze.' It was just like saying <i>halt</i>! to soldiers--like +we saw at that reunion in Ohio."</p> +<p>"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger +brother.</p> +<p>"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on +horseback. Stop asking foolish questions and go to sleep," +concluded Joel, with pitying finality, and turned to the wall.</p> +<p>"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" +There was challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no +answer. A seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight +over the other, in range cattle, and there was no common ground +between sleepy bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted +in the doctor, anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded +his assertion.</p> +<p>Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the +wounds. The doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged +otherwise. "Let's call it Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. +Besides, if I overtake the herd, I'll have to make a hand. Wait +until to-morrow, and we'll bear each other company. If another herd +shows up on the trail to-day, it may have a cow. We must make these +boys comfortable."</p> +<p>The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by +quarreling with his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel +rode out to the nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on +the upper Beaver. "That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, +"and where we get our wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the +bottom land has grown up with timber, some as big as a man's body. +It doesn't look very far away, but it takes all day to go and come, +hauling wood. There's big springs just above, and the water never +fails. That's what makes the trees so thrifty."</p> +<p>"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said +Priest, surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There +are the sand hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet +of grass."</p> +<p>"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had +to go to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and +what we could earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved +up; pa's service in the army counted on the residence required. It +doesn't matter now if we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is +to keep the taxes paid."</p> +<p>"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail +boss in fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you +boys only had the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on +shares, or buy young steers on a credit."</p> +<p>"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully +replied Joel.</p> +<p>"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly +replied the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of +your beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are +hunting a market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the +range, and the cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it."</p> +<p>"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in +his bewilderment.</p> +<p>"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and +every one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. +"Range is being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's +your chance. Water and grass, world without end."</p> +<p>Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older +man's advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The +grind of poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely +looked forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the +domain surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I +don't doubt your advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you +could, but Dell and I had better return to the settlements. Mr. +Quince will surely be well by fall."</p> +<p>"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman.</p> +<p>"I will," eagerly replied the boy.</p> +<p>"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you +are thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if +he knows any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to +stock it. In the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do +that?"</p> +<p>"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the +promise.</p> +<p>"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended +on securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows +all the drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until +the season ends. Now, don't fail to ask him."</p> +<p>"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that +control of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that +it had a value?"</p> +<p>"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never +lose sight of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten +thousand cattle, the year round, is as good as money in the +bank."</p> +<p>Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned +their horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the +southward, but were unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the +signal of an approaching herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that +he had instilled interest and inquiry into the boy's mind, which, +if carefully nurtured, might result in independence. They had +ridden several miles, discussing different matters, and when within +sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his horse. "Would you mind +repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, about control of a +range by prior rights?"</p> +<p>The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On +the range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates +back to the first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense +of equity and justice which has always existed among pastoral +people. In America it dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. +Among us Texans, a man's range is respected equally with his home. +By merely laying claim to the grazing privileges of public domain, +and occupying it with flocks or herds, the consent of custom gives +a man possession. It is an asset that is bought and sold, and is +only lost when abandoned. In all human migrations, this custom has +followed flocks and herds. Title to land is the only condition to +which the custom yields."</p> +<p>"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with +cattle, and hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated +the boy.</p> +<p>"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's +primal range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, +the settler, seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is +yours. Go in and win."</p> +<p>"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel.</p> +<p>"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. +That old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. +There's an old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now +if you have the will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince +will find the way. Try him, anyhow."</p> +<p>"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the +morning."</p> +<p>The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening +was spent in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, +Priest said to the doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd +like your opinion about these boys starting a little ranch on the +Beaver."</p> +<p>"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, +"there are too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise +nothing out here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are +you cowmen. You ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, +and your general health is actually discouraging to my profession. +Yes, I think I'll have to approve of the suggestion. A life in the +open, an evening by a camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I +wish I had my life to live over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of +Wells Brothers making a big success as ranchmen. They have health +and youth, and there's nothing like beginning at the bottom of the +ladder. In fact, the proposition has my hearty approval. Fight it +out, boys; start a ranch."</p> +<p>"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen +want to make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses +while I get breakfast. Come on."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE BOTTOM RUNG</h3> + +<p>An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, +as the Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity +of pastoral life affects its people, influencing their normal +natures into calm and tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected +start at sunrise, after breakfast the trail foreman languidly +sauntered out to the corral, followed by the boys.</p> +<p>The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you +think is detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun +is nearly an hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him +from the tent opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with +his quirt and chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they +are talking about?"</p> +<p>"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll +chance the subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow +with the boys, most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life +easy--the cows will calve in the spring."</p> +<p>Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss +put in an appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, +are you, Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile.</p> +<p>"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. +Still, I am some little distance from home, and have a family that +likes to see me occasionally."</p> +<p>The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest +to the boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable +to think of something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to +killing time, that old boy is the bell steer."</p> +<p>Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was +to intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance +among trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days +before, while passing that supply point, and it was a matter of +waiting until a herd should appear.</p> +<p>There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the +nearest swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working +overtime; the dust cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the +message, the sentinel's horse tore past the tent and was only +halted at the corral. "It's there!" he shouted, returning, peering +through the tent-flaps. "They're coming; another herd's coming. +It's in the dip behind the first divide. Shall I go? I saw it +first."</p> +<p>"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and +let's make a little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we +get a cow. Come in and we'll plot against the Texans."</p> +<p>With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, +Forrest continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk +the situation over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the +trouble is, we don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play +innocent and foxy. If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll +water in the Beaver about four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek +and keep your eagle eye open for a lone horseman, either at the +crossing or on the trail. That's the foreman, and that's the man we +want to see. He may be ten miles in the lead of his herd, and you +want to ride straight to him. Give him all the information you can +regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of Lovell's herds. +That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up to your +errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask +the foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your +work is over, except going back after the cow."</p> +<p>Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold +on," commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride +slowly, let your horse set his own pace, and don't come back +without your man. Make out that I'm badly wounded, and that you +feel uneasy that blood poisoning may set in."</p> +<p>The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of +the tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount +over level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the +horse, and before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came +in view of the anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the +horizon, the haze and heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view +that every object looked blurred and indistinct. Even the dust +cloud was missing; and pushing on a mile farther, he reined in +again. Now and then in the upper sky, an intervening cloud threw a +shadow over the plain, revealing objects more distinctly. For a +moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like prophecy +fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford!</p> +<p>In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a +fellow being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing +distance, greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. +There was water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no +pilot, the summons found a ready response, and the two were soon +riding up the Beaver in a jog trot.</p> +<p>The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon +had Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell +outfit," said the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. +Old man Don's a nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on +the trail. I've been expecting to hear something like this. If it +isn't rebranding their saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure +to be something worse. And now that flat-headed Quince Forrest +plows a fire-guard down his own leg with a six-shooter! Well, +wouldn't that sour sweet milk!"</p> +<p>"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his +pistol, and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge."</p> +<p>"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's +an old story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some +prowling tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this +short-horn. Yes, I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his +saddle and ride bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. +Rather shallow-brained to be allowed so far from home."</p> +<p>"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At +least Mr. Quince don't speak very highly of that man."</p> +<p>"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth +ever comes out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel +Quince is famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable +door. That other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of +Bibles, never to bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game +never repeats; the play never comes up twice alike. If that old +boy's gray matter ever comes to full bloom, long before his +allotted time, he'll wither away."</p> +<p>Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend +was weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either +Priest or Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming +faults of others that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even +questioned Dell with such an innocent countenance that the lad +withered before his glance, and became disheartened at the success +of the errand. Forced to the defense continually, on several +occasions Dell nearly betrayed the object of bringing the new man +to the homestead, but in each instance was saved by some fortunate +turn in the conversation. Never was sight more welcome than the +tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief from duty more +welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to the boy who +had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the object +of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust.</p> +<p>The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, +in order to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and +the flaps, rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, +Forrest watched the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, +the wounded man's greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old +Nat Straw," said he, extending his hand. "Here, I've been running +over in my mind the different trail bosses who generally go north +of the Platte River, but you escaped my memory. It must have gotten +into my mind, somehow, that you had married and gone back to +chopping cotton. Still driving for Uncle Jess Ellison, I +reckon?"</p> +<p>"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, +glancing at the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying +off, and trying to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You +must be getting doty."</p> +<p>"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged +that I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a +fool all your life!"</p> +<p>Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the +boy, as we rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of +fixing in your upper loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend +you, but it was easy to see that he hadn't known you long."</p> +<p>"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said +Forrest. "Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I +overlooked warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I +can see old Nat leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors +dragging. Don't believe a word he told you, and don't even give him +a pleasant look while he stays here."</p> +<p>The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, +to water and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of +yourself," resumed Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my +hard luck, I've fallen into angels' hands. These boys are darling +fellows. Now before you leave, square yourself with that youngest +one."</p> +<p>"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied +Straw. "It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that +you hear and only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe +hunting oftener when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. +There are just about so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've +got to take them along with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and +mumps."</p> +<p>During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the +sad condition which confronted the lads, when accident and +necessity threw him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's +opinion of the valuable range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and +urged his assistance in securing some cattle with which to stock +and claim it for the boys.</p> +<p>"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a +start in life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've +turned hundreds of them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the +delivery of a herd. Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of +mine to get a few hundred head during this summer. Here's the place +to drop your cripples and stray cows. From what Paul says, there's +range above here for thousands of cattle, and that's the foundation +of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, it has a value in proportion to +its carrying capacity, and Priest and I want these boys to secure +it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to make a fight for +them."</p> +<p>The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me +in and we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this +year to the same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as +last season, and I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my +hands last summer, held me down to the straight road brand at +delivery, and I'll see to it that there are no strays in my herd +this year. I went hungry for fresh beef, and gave those sharks over +forty good strays. They knew I'd have to leave them behind me. +Watch me do it again."</p> +<p>"About how many have you now, and how do they run?"</p> +<p>"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a +good cow down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five +head, and I'll cut you out five or six cripples. They could never +make it through, nohow."</p> +<p>"Any calves among the strays?"</p> +<p>"Two or three."</p> +<p>"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the +others to me. We'll let on that I've bought them."</p> +<p>That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was +eaten in the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail +crossing that afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut +out all strays and cripples. One of the boys would return with him, +for the expected cow, and when volunteers were called for, Dell +hesitated in offering his services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw +to Joel, who had jumped at the chance. "I'm a little weak on this +red-headed boy, and when a cow hand picks on me for his side +partner, the choice holds until further orders. Bring in the horses +off picket, son, and we'll be riding."</p> +<p>The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy +departed than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in +love with the idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to +be; just about midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog +wild to get in on it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get +sick myself, and I want to be a stockholder in this hospital of +yours. What's your favorite color in cows?"</p> +<p>Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me +a milk-white cow <i>with a black face</i>" instantly said Forrest. +"White cows are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to +drink black coffee."</p> +<p>"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what +color for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no +answer.</p> +<p>"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a +dollar a head more than mongrel colors."</p> +<p>"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can +pick his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that +little passel of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to +Forrest, "that I'm sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the +cows. Yes, I'm coming back and stay all night."</p> +<p>Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming +back, was going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but +that this stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he +would not trifle with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded +man. All this seemed so in keeping with the partial outline of +Priest, the old gray-haired foreman, that the boy's caution gave +place to firm belief. If generous princes ever walked the earth, it +was just possible that liberal ones in the rough were still riding +it in disguise.</p> +<p>Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," +said he, throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along +with this strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white +one, and you're to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your +place, I'd pick a red one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head +more than any other color."</p> +<p>There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his +brother had not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered +the younger boy.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, +with a loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. +"I left it to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. +And say, this hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one +between Dodge and Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take +stock in it. I wonder if that was what he meant by sawing off a +little passel of cattle on Mr. Quince. Now, don't argue or ask +foolish questions, but keep your eyes and ears open."</p> +<p>Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to +meet his herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the +cattle, then nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses +and rode for the rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard +of the trailing cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed +animals were to be found. The drag men knew them to a hoof, were +delighted to hear that all cripples were to be dropped, and half a +dozen were cut off and started up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the +nearest water," said Straw to the drag men, "and then push them up +the creek until I overtake you. Here's where we drop our strays and +cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail hospital."</p> +<p>The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They +filled the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, +crowding into the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek +in slaking their thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost +as uniform in size as that many marbles, and the ease with which a +few men handled the herd became a nine-day wonder to the astonished +boy. And when the word passed around to cut all strays up the +creek, the facility with which the men culled out the alien down to +one class and road brand, proved them masters in the craft. It +seemed as easily done as selecting a knife from among the other +trinkets in a boy's pocket.</p> +<p>After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail +boss drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and +classed them as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with +the cripples, the promised little passel numbered thirty-five +cattle, not counting three calves. Straw excused his men, promising +to overtake them the next morning, and man and boy drifted the +nucleus of a future ranch toward the homestead.</p> +<p>"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," +said Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one +for yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your +choice. Any time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to +pick one for your own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or +bad. Remember, it carries my compliments to you, as one of the +founders of the first hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle +trail."</p> +<p>Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were +dropped to the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get +these tender steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above +the improvements. You'll find them near here on the water. Now, +we'll sight the tent around the next bend, and you may point out +your choice."</p> +<p>"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, +pointing out a yearling.</p> +<p>A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted +Straw; "shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that +black cow and calf?"</p> +<p>"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've +heard they bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the +bunch."</p> +<p>"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her +increase would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a +cowman, you'll have to do some of your own thinking."</p> +<p>Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally +guilty, as his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived +from the random remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in +range cattle, and Dell's error was based in not relying on his own +judgment.</p> +<p>On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased +around to the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the +little herd was grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving +Dell to nurse the nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted +at the tent. "Well," said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, +"that red-headed Dell is surely the making of a great cowman. All +successful men begin at the bottom of the ladder, and he surely put +his foot on the lowest rung. What do you suppose his choice +was?"</p> +<p>"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest.</p> +<p>"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if +he didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!"</p> +<p>Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his +laughter. "Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can +say Dell wasn't true to his colors."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE</h3> + +<p>The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the +crippled cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing +needful, and it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. +They were driven up among the others, now scattered about in plain +sight in the valley above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral +contentment.</p> +<p>"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to +Forrest, as the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make +this valley look good. What you want to do now is to keep on +drawing more. Don't allow no outfit to pass without chipping in, at +least give them the chance, and this trail hospital will be on +velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell outfits will tear their +shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that needn't bar the other +herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they can chip in a +sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and if they +won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. You +ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays."</p> +<p>The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply +points were oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long +stretches of unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle +to the Northwest, was an unknown port. The monotony of from three +to five months on the trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, +while a glass of milk or even an hour in the shade was a distinct +relief. Straw was reluctant to go, returning to make suggestions, +by way of excuse, and not until forced by the advancing day did he +mount and leave to overtake his herd.</p> +<p>Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of +brands and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson +in reading brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to +right," said Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or +downward. If more than one brand is on an animal, the upper one is +the holding or one in which ownership is vested. Character brands +are known by name, and are used because difficult to alter. There +is scarcely a letter in the alphabet that a cattle thief can't +change. When a cow brute leaves its home range, it's always a +temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and characters are +not so easily changed."</p> +<p>The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that +cattle were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A +notice was accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, +from the Texas and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the +headwaters of the same, including all its tributaries, by virtue of +possession and occupancy vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. +"How does that sound?" inquired Forrest, its author, giving a +literal reading of the notice. "Nothing small or stingy about that, +eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty."</p> +<p>"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big +country?" pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this +creek."</p> +<p>"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we +make a spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice +down at the trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see +it, and nail your colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and +must be respected."</p> +<p>Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was +detailed on sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each +trip he managed to find some excuse to ride among the cattle. +"What's the brand on my white cow?" inquired Forrest, the object +leading up to another peculiarity in color.</p> +<p>"I couldn't <i>read</i> it," said Dell, airing his range +parlance.</p> +<p>"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" +inquired the wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue.</p> +<p>"Not that I remember; why?"</p> +<p>"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one +color that she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a +white face, but you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored +face. That line is drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never +shoot a wild swan with a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, +or meet a pure white cow with a black face. Hereafter, if any one +attempts to send you on a wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, +tell them that no such animal ever walked this earth."</p> +<p>Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was +sighted by the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned +themselves to random conversation.</p> +<p>"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you +why you picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a +cow. Straw laughed at you."</p> +<p>"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more +than any other color."</p> +<p>"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority +for that statement?"</p> +<p>"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to +Mr. Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in +defense of his actions.</p> +<p>"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you +actually know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the +best brand reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, +as furnished by Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I +want the road and ranch brand on the cripples, and the only or +holding brand on the others. Now, fool one another if you can. Ride +through them slowly, and the one who brings me a perfect list is my +bully boy."</p> +<p>The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several +hours were spent in copying brands. These included characters, +figures, and letters, and to read them with skill was largely a +matter of practice. Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this +instance the amateur's list would be compared with that of an +experienced trail foreman, a neutral judge from which there was no +appeal.</p> +<p>The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them +read, but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in +reading characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half +dozen of the latter in Straw's list, a <i>turkey track</i> being +the most difficult to interpret, but when all characters were fully +understood, Joel still had four errors to Dell's three. The +cripples were found to be correct in each instance, and were exempt +from further disturbance. Forrest now insisted that to classify, by +enumerating each grade, would assist in locating the errors, which +work would have to be postponed until morning.</p> +<p>The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. +Forrest regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of +the Texans in reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," +said he, "we have boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a +novel. I know men who can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, +as they leave a corral, or trail along, and not only classify them +but also give you every brand correctly. Now, that's the kind of +cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, and to-morrow morning you +must get these brands accurate. What was that?"</p> +<p>Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded +like a shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant +hail.</p> +<p>"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the +creek."</p> +<p>"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in +this country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it +up with a Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest +knoll. It's more than likely some trail man hunting this camp."</p> +<p>The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was +some fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching +horse was distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, +and the prompt hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is +Quince Forrest here?" he inquired, as his horse shied at the +tent.</p> +<p>"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice +the horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. +"Come in and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face."</p> +<p>Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling +at a straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. +Priest wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted +suicide--unfortunate in love was the reason given--and I have +orders to inquire into your health or scatter flowers on your +grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no complications, I +hope?"</p> +<p>"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage.</p> +<p>"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, +and I rode through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to +eat, now would be an awful nice time to mention it."</p> +<p>Seay's wants were looked after.</p> +<p>"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired +Forrest, resuming the conversation.</p> +<p>"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both +herds--live with the lead one and occasionally go back and see my +own. It all depends on who feeds best."</p> +<p>"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued +Forrest.</p> +<p>"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three +o'clock to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. +My outfit acts as rear-guard to Blocker's herd."</p> +<p>These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each +other in months, and a fire of questions followed, and were +answered. The chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and +field, led up to the prospects for a northern demand for +cattle.</p> +<p>"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to +a question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will +leave Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man +Don isn't driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will +pass Ogalalla before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive +going north of the Platte will come next month. With the exception +of scattering herds, the first of August will end the drive."</p> +<p>The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in +the tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in +life.</p> +<p>"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't +tasted meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. +It's a good range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year +may be a little tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for +the necessary staples, we can provision them until next spring. You +must leave some flour and salt and beans and the like."</p> +<p>"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you +ever notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit +gets tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, +and after the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie +chicken and fried trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an +elegant taste for dainties. Nothing but good old beef ever makes +them even think of home again. Yes, my cook will give you his last +bean, and make a presentation speech gratis."</p> +<p>Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had +left the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making +crutches. Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them +out, and by assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased +into an old family rocking-chair in the shade of the tent.</p> +<p>"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some +old patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white +cow yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your +uncle John Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up +as a reward to complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you +ready?"</p> +<p>The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with +the one rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's +regarding a dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under +the classification the errors were easily located, and summoning +the visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation.</p> +<p>"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's +the roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell +and Joel's. Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting +the list perfect, and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel +differs on a three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, +get them straight, because we're expecting to receive more cattle +this evening. Pass on these brands before you leave to meet your +herd this afternoon. And remember, there's a cow and calf at stake +for whichever one of these boys first gets the roll correct."</p> +<p>After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The +cattle were lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding +within a rod, thus rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell +led the way to the dun cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, +the boy called for his list in possession of the man. "Let me take +my roll a minute," said he, "and I'll make the correction. It isn't +a four bar four, it's four equals four; there's two bars instead of +one. The cow and calf is mine. That gives me three."</p> +<p>The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been +fairly earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's +errors were easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the +mere failure to note the lines of difference between the figure +eight and the letter S had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay +amused himself by pointing out different animals and calling for +their brands, and an envious rivalry resulted between the brothers, +in their ability to read range script.</p> +<p>"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode +homeward, "are gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever +forgotten. Twenty years hence, you boys will remember all these +brands. One man can read brands at twice the distance of another, +and I have seen many who could distinguish cattle from horses, with +the naked eye, at a distance of three miles. When a man learns to +know all there is about cattle, he ought to be getting gray around +the edges."</p> +<p>Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice +might trip his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's +nothing like having studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, +and it won him a cow and calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. +I wonder how he is on driving mules."</p> +<p>"I can drive them," came the prompt reply.</p> +<p>"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the +trail crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything +they give you and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we +begin laying in a year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, +followed by a late spring, and there's nothing like having enough. +Relieve them of all their dried fruits, and make a strong talk for +the staples of life. I may want to winter here myself, and a cow +camp should make provision for more or less company."</p> +<p>Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," +said he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of +the herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form."</p> +<p>It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the +trail crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a +quandary, between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the +passing herds, yet a bond of obligation to the wounded man required +his obedience. Forrest had noticed the horse under saddle, the +impatience of the boy, but tactfully removed all uneasiness.</p> +<p>"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare +you this afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, +but we have so much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you +must get me four poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and +make a sunshade out of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. +Have the props ready, and in the morning Seay will show you how to +stretch a tarpaulin for a sunshade. And then along towards evening, +you must drift our little bunch of cattle at least a mile up the +creek. I'm expecting more this evening, and until we learn the +brands on this second contingent, they must be kept separate. And +then, since we've claimed it, we want to make a showing of +occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. Within a +month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and be +watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it."</p> +<p>Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the +arbor, were cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at +hand. When the cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday +rest, the impatient lad was allowed to graze them around the bend +of the creek. There was hardly enough work to keep an active boy +employed, and a social hour ensued. "Things are coming our way," +said Forrest. "This man Seay will just about rob Blocker's outfit. +When it comes to making a poor mouth, that boy Dorg is in a class +by himself. Dell will just about have a wagon load. You boys will +have to sleep in the tent hereafter."</p> +<p>It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to +the carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in +the staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and +beans, while a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots +which, after a wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were +among the assets. It was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a +free discard of two trail outfits, all of which found an acceptable +lodgment at the new ranch.</p> +<p>"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. +Blocker's foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He +says that when he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only +put on the little and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's +such a funny fellow. He made me try on those boots, and when he saw +they would fit, he ordered their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to +give them to me or he would fight him at sunrise."</p> +<p>"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. +"Well, that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new +country. This ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my +crutch for a wand, and everything we need seems to just bob up out +of the plain. Cattle coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming +to supper, in fact, everything coming our way. Dell, get up a +banquet--who cares for expense!"</p> +<p>It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed +above the homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, +the cripples had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the +next morning. With the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to +reach the opening, and by clinging to the tent-pole, waved a +welcome to the approaching trail men.</p> +<p>Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted +his host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what +kind of a dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the +square, there goes my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the +gift carries the compliments of my employer, Captain John. That +red-headed boy delivered my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out +that I'm somebody that's come a long way, and that you're tickled +to death to see me, and order the fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I +won't even dismount."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>A FALL OF CRUMBS</h3> + +<p>An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to +overtake their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully +employed. The cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the +commissary stores assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men +had stretched the sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state +before his own tent door.</p> +<p>The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, +they were a mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. +Occasionally a trail foreman would provide his outfit with a milk +cow before starting, or gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly +given his cow to the hospital on the Beaver.</p> +<p>A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the +twilight of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and +only ceased near the middle of the following forenoon. The creek +filled to its banks, the field and garden freshened in a day, and +the new ranch threw off the blight of summer drouth.</p> +<p>"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst +forth at noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now +that water is sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will +cool the weather and freshen the grass, and every drover with herds +on the trail will push forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol +the crossing on the Beaver, as the rain will lay the dust for a +week and rob us of our signal."</p> +<p>The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was +daily detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a +herd, if timing its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could +be sighted. On a primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle +trail, every benefit to the herd was sought, and the freshened +range and running water were a welcome breeze to the drover's +sail.</p> +<p>The first week after the rain only three herds reached the +Beaver. Each foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, +but the herds were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for +delivery on army contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of +owners. The usual flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled +and lame saddle stock, and of useless commissary supplies, was +missing, and only the well wishes of the wayfaring were left to +hearten man and boy at the new ranch.</p> +<p>The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's +herds passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased +to one hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, +while the commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load +being necessary to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In +all, during the week, fifteen herds passed, only three of which +refused the invitation to call, while one was merely drifting along +in search of a range to take up and locate with a herd of cattle. +Its owners, new men in the occupation, were scouting wide, and when +one of them discovered Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his +delight was unbounded, as the range met every requirement for +establishing a ranch.</p> +<p>The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the +source of the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he +rode down the creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend +of the Beaver, was surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing +the value of the range, Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the +first contingent of strays up the creek, farther and farther, until +they were then ranging within a mile of the grove. The newcomer +could hardly control his chagrin, and as he rode along, scarcely a +mile was passed but more cattle were encountered, and finally the +tent and homestead loomed in sight.</p> +<p>"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the +stranger, as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a +homestead, I suppose?"</p> +<p>Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the +latter; "this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from +the trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the +trail with cattle, I reckon?"</p> +<p>"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the +man. "I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine +grove of timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, +we'll move in within a few days and take possession."</p> +<p>"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely +inquired Forrest.</p> +<p>"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have +escaped from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll +have them all rounded up and pushed down the creek."</p> +<p>Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the +arbor and took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was +a picture of contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, +and qualifying his remarks with rare irony.</p> +<p>"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and +stay for dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, +come to some friendly understanding."</p> +<p>"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and +will be anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we +don't care to locate any farther north."</p> +<p>"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your +cattle. You seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the +wounded man.</p> +<p>"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty +of unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to +graze five thousand cattle."</p> +<p>"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the +Beaver, will carry ten thousand head the year round," replied +Forrest, languidly indifferent.</p> +<p>"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer.</p> +<p>Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You +have the name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some +time ago, and those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. +Before you round up any cattle and drive them out, you had better +look into the situation thoroughly. You surely know and respect +range customs."</p> +<p>"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to +hold the whole country with a handful of cattle."</p> +<p>"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as +fast as possible," politely replied Forrest.</p> +<p>"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," +authoritatively asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a +thousand cows, and I've decided on that hackberry grove as +headquarters."</p> +<p>"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like +tones. "Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. +Their range runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the +headwaters of Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you +can't stay for dinner, you'll have time to ride down to the +crossing of the Texas and Montana trail on this creek. There you'll +find the posted notice, so that he who runs may read, that Wells +Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll furnish you a pencil +and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the formal notice +and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong enough to +outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. I've +met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet."</p> +<p>The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see +the object in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a +legal question," said he, mounting.</p> +<p>"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase +of a herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of +beginners like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance +of range is a good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and +sheet of paper."</p> +<p>"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining +away. "I suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without +halting.</p> +<p>"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," +shouted the crippled Texan.</p> +<p>Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. +The boy had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession +of a range, and now the envy of others had threatened his +interests.</p> +<p>"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is +like a page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: +that you took your range in good time, and that it has a value. +This very afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to +those springs above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample +around the water and noon in the shade of the motte. That's +possession, and possession is nine points, and the other fellow can +have the tenth. If any one wants to dispute your rights or encroach +on them, I'll mount a horse and go to the trail for help. The +Texans are the boys to insist on range customs being respected. +It's time I was riding a little, anyhow."</p> +<p>Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds +due to reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of +the foremen around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if +you want to see him, you had better come down to the crossing. He +knows you, and makes out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come +down, he'll give you a quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's +one of Jess Pressnell's bosses."</p> +<p>"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the +horses and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a +scaffold to get me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, +because hereafter we must almost live on horseback."</p> +<p>The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, +returned to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the +Beaver, in order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its +living springs. The plains of the West were a lawless country, and +if its pioneers would not respect its age-old pastoral customs, +then the consequences must be met or borne.</p> +<p>Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds +were coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed +from the homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return +for a week, foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and +never failing to levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on +cattle, horses, and needful supplies. As many as five and six herds +arrived in a single day, none of which were allowed to pass without +an appeal: if strangers, in behalf of a hospital; if among friends, +the simple facts were sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with +bunches of cattle, or freighting the caches to the homestead, while +Joel received the different contingents and scouted the threatened +range.</p> +<p>Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell +fell heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a +trail outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, +affording each of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud +against the range lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the +Beaver, and Forrest took particular pains to inform its owners of +the whereabouts of unclaimed range the year before. Evidently the +embryo cowmen had taken heed and inquired into range customs, and +were accordingly profuse with disclaimers of any wrong intent.</p> +<p>The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of +the Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the +trailing of cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand +head having crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the +boys an insight into pastoral life, brought them in close contact +with the men of the open, drove false ideas from their immature +minds, and assisted in the laying of those early foundations on +which their future manhood must rest.</p> +<p>Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest +slept with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the +best water. The fact that only experienced men were employed on the +trail made the red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, +while the wide acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad +every courtesy of camp and road. Dell soon learned that the +position of point man usually fell to a veteran of the range, and +one whose acquaintance was worthy of cultivation, both in the +saddle and around the camp-fire.</p> +<p>"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one +of their trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to +do, and nearly always rides with one leg across his horse's +neck."</p> +<p>"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, +you'll have to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in +the swing, and after that you have a right to expect a place on the +point. The trouble is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two +at any time. Here I've been a foreman in other years, and this trip +I was glad to make a hand. There's so many slips, and we can't be +all point men and bosses. Cooks and horse wranglers are also useful +men."</p> +<p>The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared +early during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly +healed, and he was wondering if his employer would make a further +claim on his services during that summer, which was probable at the +hands of a drover with such extensive interests. He and Dell were +still patrolling the ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance +from the railroad to the south drove up to the crossing. It brought +a telegram from Don Lovell, requesting the presence of Forrest in +Dodge City, and the messenger, a liveryman from Buffalo, further +assured him that transportation was awaiting him at that station. +There were no grounds on which to refuse the summons, indefinite +and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations were immediately +made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had been secured +during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all returned to +the homestead for the night.</p> +<p>To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and +now that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was +revealed. As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment +when their poverty had protested at receiving him, his +unselfishness in their behalf had proven his friendship and +gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was not lost on the +parentless waifs.</p> +<p>On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. +"Don't worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and +grass grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've +never done any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out +and see if you lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that +I've done any great feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one +of the laws of life, that often we can do for others what we can't +do for ourselves. That sounds like preaching, but it isn't. +Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I didn't get you double the +number of cattle. What we did skirmish together was merely the +flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from the supper table, +and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could have had just a +few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys being poor +and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was good for +a thousand strays and cripples!"</p> +<p>The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine +range. Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the +titles to many of them were, had been secured and were occupying +the valley. A round dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, +but which in time would round into form, were added to the new +ranch. Every passing commissary had laughed at the chance to +discard its plunder and useless staples, and only the departure of +the man behind the venture, standing in the shadow as it were, +threw a depression over the outlook.</p> +<p>Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with +Forrest. The boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was +only with tact and diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest +and embarrassment, was forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said +the departing man, "and it may come handy with you. There's a long +winter ahead, and the fight ain't near won yet. The first year in +starting a ranch is always the hardest. But if you boys can only +hold these cattle until grass comes again, it's the making of you. +You know the boy is father to the man, and if you are true-blue +seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to the stock."</p> +<p>Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the +railroad was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a +hand, shaking it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the +general advice. "I'll make Dodge in two days," said the departing +guest, "and then I'll know the meaning of this wire. It means +something--that's sure. In the mean time, sit square in your +saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run riot that you are +cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. That's all until +you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. Adios, +señors."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>SUNSHINE AND SHADOW</h3> + +<p>An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few +herds were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate +to plead, all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. +Forrest had only taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all +fixtures contributed for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, +including the horses of his employers. The lads were therefore left +an abundance of mounts, all cattle were drifted above the ranch, +and plans for the future considered.</p> +<p>Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our +saddle horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after +Forrest's departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will +make fodder, but that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and +I know where I can mow a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have +to stable a saddle horse apiece this winter, and those mules will +have to be fed. The grass has greened up since the rain, and it +will be no trick at all to make ten to fifteen tons of hay. Help me +grind the scythe, and we'll put in every spare hour haying. While +you ride around the cattle every morning, I can mow."</p> +<p>A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming +West, their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive +methods prevailed on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use +a scythe in his haying operations. Joel swung the blade like a +veteran, scattering his swath to cure in the sun, and with +whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. The raking into +windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for the brothers, +no day passing but the cured store was added to, until sufficient +was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried their +mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals.</p> +<p>"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said +Dell, on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five +tons in it. And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when +I've worked so hard and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan +despises any work he can't do on horseback. But just the same, +they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. Quince could live with us +always. He's surely a good forager."</p> +<p>The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two +strangers rode up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They +were made welcome, and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, +in search of pasturage for a herd of through cattle. There was an +open frankness about the wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of +wrong intent, and the brothers met their inquiries with equal +candor.</p> +<p>"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in +kindly greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the +trail crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless +the market improves, we must secure range for three thousand +two-year-old steers. Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow."</p> +<p>The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new +occupation. The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the +innate kindness of the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As +the evening wore on, the old sense of dependence brought the lads +in closer touch with the strangers, the conversation running over +the mutual field of range and cattle matters.</p> +<p>"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are +leaving your State for the upper country?"</p> +<p>"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. +"It's the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests +of our State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, +Texas clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was +limited, the State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were +congesting on our ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. +The subjection of the Indian was followed by a sudden development +of the West, the Texas and Montana cattle trail opened, and the +pastoral resources of our State surprised the world. Last year we +sent eight hundred thousand cattle over the trail, and they were +not missed at home. That's the reason I'm your guest to-night; +range has suddenly become valuable in Texas."</p> +<p>"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of +cattle," added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding +ground, but we can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty +years' experience has proven that a northern climate is necessary +to fatten and bring our Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two +winters in the North will insure a gain of from three to four +hundred pounds' extra weight more per head than if allowed to reach +maturity on their native heath. This gain fully doubles the value +of every hoof, and is a further motive why we are your guests +to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which to mature +our steer cattle."</p> +<p>The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an +asset of value. Less than two months before, they were on the point +of abandoning their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining +life, the stone which the builders rejected, and now it promised a +firm foundation to their future hopes. The threatened encroachment +of a few weeks previous, and the causes of demand, as explained by +their guests, threw a new light on range values and made the boys +doubly cautious. Was there a possible tide in the primitive range, +which taken at its flood would lead these waifs to fortune?</p> +<p>The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper +valley of the Beaver.</p> +<p>"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be +understood that we respect your rights to this range. If we can +reach some mutual agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, +but not by any form of intrusion. We might pool our interests for a +period of years, and the rental would give you lads a good +schooling. There are many advantages that might accrue by pooling +our cattle. At least, there is no harm in looking over the +range."</p> +<p>"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. +"None of our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from +there I can nearly point out the limits of our ranch."</p> +<p>"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, +"but only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with +Mr. Quince Forrest, now at Dodge."</p> +<p>"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No +one must take any advantage of you boys."</p> +<p>The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead +the different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel +resumed his mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses +coming down the dim road which his father used in going to +Culbertson. A wagon followed, and from its general outlines the boy +recognized it to be a cow outfit, heading for their improvements. +Hastening homeward, he found Paul Priest, the gray-haired foreman, +who had passed northward nearly two months before, sitting under +the sunshade before the tent.</p> +<p>"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!"</p> +<p>No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys +had been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest +filled every want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't +bother about getting any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the +creek, and we'll have a little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in +Dodge; old man Don told me he needed him. Where's your +brother?"</p> +<p>"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted +Joel. "They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement +reached must be made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, +you will do just as well. They'll be in soon."</p> +<p>"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired +foreman. "I'm jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm +a silent partner in this ranch. How many cattle have you?"</p> +<p>"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves."</p> +<p>"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The +lazy wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!"</p> +<p>"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell +and myself."</p> +<p>"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a +rustler I am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the +wrangler and issue directions in regard to camping.</p> +<p>The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse +between Priest and his protégé. For the time being a +soldier's introduction sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came +in for a rough caress. "What do you think of the range?" inquired +the trail foreman, turning to the men, and going direct to the +subject.</p> +<p>"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder +cowman, "and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer."</p> +<p>"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a +jerk of his thumb toward Priest.</p> +<p>"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. +"My name is Allen, and this is my son Hugh."</p> +<p>"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don +Lovell," said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the +Texans.</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the +younger man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our +herd."</p> +<p>"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his +pockets for a telegram.</p> +<p>"Comanche."</p> +<p>"And when did you leave Dodge?"</p> +<p>"Just ten days ago."</p> +<p>"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, +handing the older man a telegram.</p> +<p>The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman +continued: "This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, +and we delivered it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North +Platte. From there the main contractor will trail the beef herd up +to the Yellowstone. Old man Don was present at the delivery, and +when I got back to Ogalalla with the oufit, that message was +awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to receive the cattle. They +go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. It says +three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, don't it?"</p> +<p>"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back."</p> +<p>The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll +have to declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had +several good offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn +of events. I had figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of +this range would give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you +on the eldest attaining his majority. We could have pooled our +cattle, and your interests would have been carried free."</p> +<p>"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an +air of interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've +known some mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the +owl in their old McGuffy spelling-book."</p> +<p>A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a +welcome call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook +has orders to tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner."</p> +<p>A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," +said the elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company +to the railroad."</p> +<p>"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. +"We're making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we +reach Dodge."</p> +<p>"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the +genial Texan.</p> +<p>"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have +lived around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that +you simply can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is +the hour for starting, and I'll overtake you before evening."</p> +<p>The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having +been excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine +condition, four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the +hour named, the cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. +"Angle across the plain and enter the trail on the divide, between +here and the Prairie Dog," suggested Priest to his men. "We will +want to touch here coming back, and the wagon track will point the +way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo."</p> +<p>Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and +means committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, +once the sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts +spirit and courage into the firing line like knowing that the +reserves are strong. It's going to be no easy task to hold these +cattle this winter, and now is the time to bring up the ammunition +and provision the camp. The army can't march unless the mules are +in condition, and you must be well mounted to handle cattle. Ample +provision for your saddle stock is the first requirement."</p> +<p>"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll +have two hundred shocks of fodder."</p> +<p>"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for +your saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, +cavalry is useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers +along its line, coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll +make inquiry to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred +bushels of corn would make the forage reserves ample for the +winter."</p> +<p>"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't +want to take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy."</p> +<p>"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now +comes the question of corrals and branding."</p> +<p>"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping +at conclusions.</p> +<p>"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a +blizzard struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty +miles during a night. These through Texas cattle have been known to +drift five hundred miles during the first winter. You must guard +against a winter drift, and the only way is to hold your cattle +under herd. If you boys let these cattle out of your hand, away +from your control, they'll drift south to the Indian reservations +and be lost. You must hold them in spite of storms, and you will +need a big, roomy inclosure in which to corral the herd at +night."</p> +<p>"There's the corn field," suggested Dell.</p> +<p>"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect +against the north and west winds."</p> +<p>"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a +perfect horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the +north and northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose +five acres. Our cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above +the house."</p> +<p>"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising.</p> +<p>"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle +of the creek," promptly replied Joel.</p> +<p>"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll +have time to look it over before leaving."</p> +<p>While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel +certain alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of +the addition of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the +necessary posts and timber before my return, and when we pass +north, my outfit will build you a chute and brand your cattle the +same day. Have the materials on the ground, and I'll bring any +needful hardware from the railroad."</p> +<p>A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The +sand-bar was overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on +horseback, but the leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount +through the tangle until the bend was circled. "It's an ideal +winter shelter," said Priest, dismounting to step the entrance, as +a preliminary measurement. "A hundred and ten yards," he announced, +a few minutes later, "coon-skin measurement. You'll need twenty +heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll bring you a roll of wire. +That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills easily. Given a dry +bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd can laugh at +any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing niggardly +about its proportions."</p> +<p>"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the +trio rode homeward.</p> +<p>"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw +winter's over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian +summer. It might be as late as the first of December, but it's a +good idea to loose-herd awhile; ride around them evening and +morning, corral them and leave the gates open, teach them to seek a +dry, cosy bed, at least a month before putting the cattle under +close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, and then they'll +want to come home. You boys will just about have to live with your +little herd this winter."</p> +<p>"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we +can do it again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can +weather them."</p> +<p>"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog +case; it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. +Lost during one storm, and your herd is lost for good."</p> +<p>"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. +"Mr. Quince thought two stabled ones would do the winter +herding."</p> +<p>"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," +replied the cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you +spare them. If you must, miss your own dinner, but see that your +horse gets his. Dismount and strip the bridle off at every chance, +and if you guard against getting caught out in storms, one horse +apiece is all you need."</p> +<p>On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse +in waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit +his visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading +his horse from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and +lend a hand in shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have +a herd of his own, and in that case, there will be two outfits of +men. More than likely, we'll come through together."</p> +<p>Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around +as if time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary +is provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a +winter's siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute +is half done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. +Honest Injun, I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you +out; just to see what kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if +any one else offers to buy an interest in this range," he called +back, as a happy afterthought, "just tell them that you have all +the partners you need."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK</h3> + +<p>The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a +firing line of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit +and courage of orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming +winter. The elements have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a +conqueror, and an invincible army has trailed its banners in the +snow, unable to cope with the rigors of the frost king. The lads +bent anew to their tasks with a cheerfulness which made work mere +play, sweetening their frugal fare, and bringing restful sleep. The +tie which began in a mercenary agreement had seemingly broken its +bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human love, a new +covenant had been adopted.</p> +<p>"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next +morning, "holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds +them now without herding."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0106-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0106-1.jpg" width="484" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst +possible winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way +to overcome one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means +by bringing up the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to +withstand a winter siege."</p> +<p>"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell.</p> +<p>"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding +around the cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in +Hackberry Grove. Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut +them while you're hauling wood. Remember we must have the materials +on the ground when Mr. Paul returns, to build a corral and branding +chute."</p> +<p>Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. +Within a week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the +further supply of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily +noted in its advancing growth.</p> +<p>Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was +levied on, a change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt +a new impetus by making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The +fuel supply grew, not to meet a winter's, but a year's +requirements. Where strength was essential, only the best of timber +was chosen, and well within the time limit the materials for corral +and branding chute were at hand on the ground. One task met and +mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier.</p> +<p>"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as +the last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew +the plans, we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, +and it won't do to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar +rises in the stock. We can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul +returns."</p> +<p>Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range +to-day," he announced the following morning. "From here to the ford +doesn't matter, but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We +must learn the location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever +cuts us off from the corrals, we must point the herd for some other +port."</p> +<p>"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell.</p> +<p>"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through +the sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of +dunes."</p> +<p>That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at +the new ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away +with the rising sun, riding among and counting the different +bunches of cattle encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no +details of the conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up +the creek, escape their vigilance.</p> +<p>The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed +on their chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the +forks of the Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south +branch of the creek was traced to its source among the sand dunes. +If not inviting, the section proved interesting, with its scraggy +plum brush, its unnumbered hills, and its many depressions, +scalloped out of the sandy soil by the action of winds. Coveys of +wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken took wing on every +hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf arose from a sunny +siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed the air in +search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined in +their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and +like a flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother +and whelps skulked and were lost to sight in an instant.</p> +<p>"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs +appeared. "The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and +are still following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and +if this proves a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our +cattle before spring. We may have more than storms to fight. There +they go."</p> +<p>"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither +dog nor gun."</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not +bother us while they can get food elsewhere."</p> +<p>The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter +refuge to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for +a short gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once +the open of the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the +brothers made a wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite +the homestead, near the middle of the afternoon, they turned and +rode directly for the ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted +them.</p> +<p>Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance +revealed both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up +to the stable corral, in the rough reception which followed, the +lads were fairly dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. +"Well, here we are again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said +Priest, once order was restored.</p> +<p>"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel.</p> +<p>"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. +About this time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open +with two herds, each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. +I'm coming with some style this time. You simply can't keep a good +man down."</p> +<p>"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef +ranch," explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and +came through a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have +the chute and corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll +lack is the hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during +the afternoon."</p> +<p>The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the +day. Every old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by +twilight the outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The +stable corral was built out of heavy poles and posts, with a +capacity of holding near one hundred cattle, and by a very slight +alteration it could be enlarged, with branding conveniences +added.</p> +<p>At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys +regarding the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked +the matter over between themselves, and had decided that the simple +truth concerning the facts was the only course to adopt. The older +of the two men, by the consent of years, was delegated to instruct +the lads, and when the question of brands to be adopted by the new +ranch was under consideration, the chance presented itself.</p> +<p>"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the +boys, as they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have +to use two brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by +bill-of-sale. In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is +simply impossible to keep strays out of moving herds. They come in +at night, steal in while a herd is passing through thickets, while +it is watering, and they may not be noticed for a month. Under all +range customs, strays are recognized as flotsam. Title is +impossible, and the best claim is due to the range that gives them +sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the increase of +strays to the range on which they are found, and that will entitle +you to all calves born of stray mothers."</p> +<p>The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For +fear of winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will +run all these strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be +known as the 'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us +an asylum for that branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and +owners of the range, all increase will fall to Wells Brothers. +However, in accepting this deputyship, you do so with the +understanding that the brand is merely a tally-mark, and that in no +way does it deprive the owner of coming forward to prove and take +possession of his property. This method affords a refuge to all +strays in your possession, and absolves you from any evil intent. +All other cattle coming under your control, with the knowledge and +consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee simple, and we +will run them into any brand you wish to adopt."</p> +<p>"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating.</p> +<p>"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. +"The weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way +their ancestors went. One generation exempts you."</p> +<p>The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not +mentioned until the following morning. The forces were divided +between the tasks, and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the +site of the new corral, the disclosure was made known.</p> +<p>"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. +"Wolves act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. +Their activity or presence will warn you of the approach of +blizzards, and you want to take the hint and keep your weather eye +open. When other food becomes scarce, they run in packs and will +kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, as yours will be either under +herd or in a corral. Wolves always single out an animal to attack; +they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken advantage of in their +hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly loves kidney +suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, they +can be lured to their own destruction."</p> +<p>The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. +It was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to +a strong post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together +with stays, admitting of a pliability which served a double +purpose. By sinking an extra post opposite each of the main ones, +the flexibility of the gate also admitted of making a perfect wing, +aiding in the entrance or exit of a herd. In fastening the gate in +the centre short ropes were used, and the wire web drawn taut to +the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys will find this short +wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," assured the old +foreman.</p> +<p>The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. +Forrest took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme +upper limits of the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and +turned homeward. The cattle ranged within a mile or two on either +side of the creek, and by slowly closing in and drifting down the +Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch was brought into a compact herd. +There was no hurry, as ample time must be allowed for the arrival +of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in finishing and making +ready the upper corral for its first reception of cattle. There was +a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, as a surprise +for the boys.</p> +<p>As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch +hours in advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by +Priest, and fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of +ropes attached to the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to +the scene of its use at an easy canter. The stretching of the wire +was less than an hour's work, the slack being taken up by the +wranglers, ever upholding Texas methods, from the pommels of +saddles, while Priest clinched the strands with staples at the +proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable extension of the +fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. "Now, when the +stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in place with +staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," said +one of the wranglers admiringly.</p> +<p>It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after +counting the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel +to graze the herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a +mile above, and taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The +trail herds had purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the +Beaver that night, and were met by their respective foremen while +watering for the day. In receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of +one-aged cattle, both foremen, but more particularly Forrest, in +the extra time at his command, had levied on the flotsam of the +herds from which his employer was buying, until he had accumulated +over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, among a few friends +and the few herds with which he came in contact, scarcely half that +number, and still the two contingents made a very material increase +to the new ranch.</p> +<p>The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. +Joel and Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch +stock, and Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and +late contingents as the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of +the boys on the point, as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it +was suddenly confronted by another contingent, rounding a bend of +the creek from the opposite quarter. Priest had purposely detailed +strange men, coached to the point of blindness, in charge of the +new addition, and when the two bunches threatened to mix, every +horseman present except the boys seemed blind to the situation.</p> +<p>Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," +said Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own +boys to point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches +of cattle mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!"</p> +<p>"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," +protested Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and +their cattle walked into ours. Where were you?"</p> +<p>"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his +down on the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot +what we were doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them +now. We'll pen them until morning."</p> +<p>The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the +strange men assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the +situation to the crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the +gray-haired foreman managed to drop a word which lightened Dell's +depression and cleared up the supposed error.</p> +<p>That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped +together, the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the +outfits mingled around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, +old songs were sung, the lusty chorus of which easily reached the +night-herders, and was answered back like a distant refrain.</p> +<p>The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a +wasted step. Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the +foremen and the boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task +before them. The chute had been ironed and bolted the evening +previous, and long before the early rays of the sun flooded the +valley of the Beaver, the first contingent of cattle arrived from +the upper corral.</p> +<p>The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten +grown cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars +fore and aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail +foremen, was quickly over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen +bunches, and before the noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed +under the running irons and bore the new owner's brand or +tally-mark.</p> +<p>Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the +limit of travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing +the railroad a few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was +the railroad depot for settlers' supplies, and the boys were +advised to file their order for corn, and to advance a liberal +payment to insure attention. All details of the ranch seemed well +in hand, the cattle were in good condition to withstand a winter, +and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from age to youth, +the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern for the +future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if the +reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible?</p> +<p>The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On +reaching a divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse +of the Beaver, the cavalcade halted for a parting look.</p> +<p>"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the +hazy valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the +winter."</p> +<p>"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as +decisive as if his own flesh and blood had been insulted.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT</h3> + +<p>The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells +of the plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in +spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept +into the hearts of the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; +shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure +companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their +years. Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast +aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for +hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the struggle for existence, +human affection was almost denied them. A happy home they had never +known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy of remembrance +was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the mire of +their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss was +realized.</p> +<p>Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully +discussed the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive +to watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the +boys to battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, +and on the departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of +the matter at issue.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, +watching the receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us +several miles out and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it +will be my fault if it does."</p> +<p>Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified +his gaze at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful +sufferings flashed through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to +tears, dimmed his eyes. He had learned the lesson that poverty +teaches, unaware that the storm which rocks also roots the oak, but +unable to make the comparison or draw the inference between +surrounding nature and himself. For an instant the horsemen dipped +from view, changing the scene, and a picture rose up, a vision of +the future, of independence, of a day when he would take his place +as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its bridges +burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if encouraged +by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley of the +Beaver.</p> +<p>"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously +answering his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last +divide. "Hold them. I can hold them alone."</p> +<p>"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his +brother into the tent. "We have provisions for a year."</p> +<p>"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost +hissing the words--words which became a slogan afterward.</p> +<p>The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition +mixed and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with +its abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first +four horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at +least for the present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen +horses, fully half of which were fit for saddle, were at the +service of the ranch, ample in number in proportion to the cattle +secured.</p> +<p>It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over +two months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. +With no work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling +farther to the west and south, until any country liable to catch a +winter drift became familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of +every drover had ceased, and the active trail of a month before had +been deserted. The new ranch had no neighbors, the nearest +habitation was on the railroad to the south, and the utter +loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active work. To those +who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in their +daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal +by flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, +the cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman.</p> +<p>The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a +welcome task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance +to the saddle horses, an important feature in withstanding the +coming winter siege. An ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry +weather curing the buffalo grass on the divides, until it was the +equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle of ample grazing until +spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl of snow, a single +angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid Indian summer. Its +coming warned the lads; the order for corn was placed; once a week +the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the ranch was made +snug against the wintry months.</p> +<p>The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree +to deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and +an equal number of round trips would be required to freight the +grain from the railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and +sacked at elevator points, eastward in the State, and in +encouraging emigration the railroad was glad to supply the grain at +cost and freightage.</p> +<p>The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a +deposit, and identification was necessary with the agent. On the +very first trip to Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a +surprise awaited the earnest boy. As if he were a citizen of the +hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, Paul Priest greeted Joel on his +arrival. The old foreman had secretly left a horse with the +railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail crossed, had kept in +touch with the delivery of corn at stations westward, and had timed +his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit to his +protégées.</p> +<p>"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or +accident," said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get +damaged, slippery ground might prevent the placing of a battery at +an opportune moment, or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a +courier with an important order. I feel an interest in your little +ranch, and when I know that everything is done that can be done to +fortify against the coming winter, I'll go home feeling better. +There is such a thing as killing the spirit of a soldier, and if I +were to let you boys try and fail, it would affect your courage to +face the future. That's the reason I've dropped off to take a last +look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got to hold those +cattle."</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, +we're going to hold the herd," simply said the boy.</p> +<p>There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad +that pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters +on the range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the +worst. But come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the +best fight in us, and fail, then we are blameless. But with my +experience, if I let you fail, when you might have won, then I have +done you an injury."</p> +<p>That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline +on which their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of +no shirking on the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to +a change of clean saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully +understood. The death of a horse in which reliance rested, at an +unfortunate moment, might mean the loss of the herd, and a clean, +warm blanket on a cold day was the merciful forethought of a man +for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen blanket must be used on +the Wells ranch.</p> +<p>On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was +necessary, at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of +its terrors by the presence of a veteran of the open. Before +leaving the depot, Priest unearthed a number of bundles, "little +things that might come in handy," among which was a sack of salt +and two empty oak barrels. The latter provoked an inquiry from +Joel, and an explanation was forced at the moment.</p> +<p>"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, +and which was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the +boy's query with a question.</p> +<p>"A mottled beef, branded 7L?"</p> +<p>"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding +him?"</p> +<p>"Dell and I thought it was an oversight."</p> +<p>"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these +barrels, then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has +undergone several Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the +governor's cellar won't have any better corn beef this winter than +the Wells ranch. Seven or eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is +an important item in the winter intrenchments. In fact, it's an +asset to any cow camp. There are so many little things that may +come in handy."</p> +<p>The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a +course that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He +had never been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with +a loaded wagon, he angled away for the sand hills which formed the +divide, sloping away to the branches of the main creek. Noon found +him on the south fork; cattle were encountered near the juncture, +and as he approached the grove, a horseman rode out as if to +dispute the passage of an intruder. The old foreman noticed the +boyish figure and delayed the meeting, reining in to critically +examine cattle which he had branded some three months before. With +diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the wayfarer riding +away on a tangent and veering back on his general course, until +Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted.</p> +<p>"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have +made coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was +spending the day among the cattle."</p> +<p>"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted +Priest; "that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does +that 7L steer range?"</p> +<p>"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied +the boy, repeating and answering the question.</p> +<p>"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman.</p> +<p>The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour +had brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was +overlooked on the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and +the hairy, shaggy, winter coats of the cattle almost hid the +brands, while three to six months' rest on a perfect range was +reflected in the splendid condition of the general herd.</p> +<p>"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't +worry us," said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand +any ordinary winter."</p> +<p>"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range +below the ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. +There's the mottled steer."</p> +<p>They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said +he, "that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. +The adage is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of +intrenchment are encouraging."</p> +<p>The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the +arrival of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between +the brothers, the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, +there were sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy +felting, flannels over and under, as if the boys were being +outfitted for a polar expedition. "It may all come in handy," said +a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on sentinel duty ought to be +made comfortable. In holding cattle this winter, it's part of the +intrenchments."</p> +<p>A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel +was away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while +those left behind busied themselves in strengthening the +commissary. The barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding +water, knives were ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling +out meat. Dell, on the tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, +wondering how this quiet man would accomplish his ends, and unable +to wholly restrain his curiosity.</p> +<p>"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably +marry young, and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know +how to cure corn beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the +lesson is yours. Watch me closely."</p> +<p>The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of +the afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of +cattle, including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down +to the desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to +alertness, and when the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy +instinctively knew that a moment of action was at hand. Without in +the least alarming the other cattle, the cast was made, the loop +opened in mid-air, settled around the horns, cut fast by a jerk of +the rope, and the contest between man and animal began. It was over +in a moment. The shade of a willow was the chosen spot, and as the +cattle were freed, the steer turned, the horseman taking one side +of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping several turns of the +rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant the big fellow +quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and the beef +fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in the +shade of the willow. And it was so easily done.</p> +<p>"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired +Texan, dismounting. "You may bring the knives."</p> +<p>Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark +the beef was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to +drain and cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of +animal heat passed away, and before sunrise the meat was salted +into barrels. Thereafter, or until it was drained of every animal +impurity, the beef was spread on the platform nightly, the brine +boiled and skimmed, until a perfect pickle was secured. It was a +matter of a week's concern, adding to the commissary two barrels of +prime corned beef, an item of no small value in the line of +sustenance.</p> +<p>The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see +what made the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next +morning; "it won't open for me."</p> +<p>Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a +kite, or the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval +noose, "the same principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The +oval must have a heavy side, which you get by letting the Hondo run +almost halfway round the loop, or double on one side. Then when you +make your cast, the light side will follow the heavy, and your loop +will open. In other words, what the feather is to the arrow, the +light side is to the heavy, and if you throw with force, the loop +must open."</p> +<p>It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to +be a fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which +followed, in the saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of +practicing with a rope, while the patient man called attention to +several wrist movements which lent assistance in forming a perfect +loop. The slightest success was repeated to perfection; unceasing +devotion to a task masters it, and before the visit ended, the +perfect oval poised in the air and the rope seemingly obeyed the +hand of Dell Wells.</p> +<p>"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle +business," said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. +Keep them up your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own +personal use. These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. +When I make up an outfit for the trail, I never insist on any +special attainments. Just so he's good natured, and no danger of a +rainy night dampening the twinkle in his eye, that's the boy for +me. Then if he can think a little, act quick, clear, and to the +point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a cow in a month."</p> +<p>In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of +annoyance from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of +suet in the beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, +and a full gallon of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its +needs. While Joel was away after the last load of corn, several +dozen wooden holders were prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk +to the depth of five or six inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, +and the troughs charred and smoked of every trace of human +scent.</p> +<p>That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind +that a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your +cunning against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're +dealing with a crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, +surrounding the bait, every trace of human scent must be avoided. +For that reason, you must handle the holder with a spear or hay +fork, and if you have occasion to dismount, to refill a trough, +carry a board to alight on, remembering to lower and take it up by +rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent of a horse arouses +no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it allays +distrust."</p> +<p>In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned +suet. "After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, +illustrating the process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. +An overdose acts as an emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that +reason, you must pack the tallow in the auger hole, filling from a +half to two thirds full. Force Mr. Wolf to lick it out, administer +the poison slowly, and you are sure of his scalp. You will notice I +have bored the hole in solid wood, to prevent gnawing, and you must +pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, as a crafty wolf will +roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. Keep your holders +out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the loading tools +before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves that may +molest your cattle."</p> +<p>The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. +After the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed +every possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be +foreseen, the only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and +barring the burning of the range from unseen sources, the new ranch +stood prepared to withstand a winter siege. Everything to forefend +against a day of stress or trial had been done, even to instilling +courage into youthful hearts.</p> +<p>"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the +practical man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an +unexpected storm. If a change of weather threatens, point your herd +to meet it, and then if you are caught out, you will have the storm +in your back to drift the cattle home. Shepherds practice that +rule, and the same applies to cattle under herd."</p> +<p>All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back +the extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession +of the boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final +summary of the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the +table, the trail foreman seemingly reluctant to leave.</p> +<p>"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying +with his coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping +in the winter. But the next few months you boys must reverse that +rule. Not that you need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your +vigilance should never sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the +first and last thought of the day, and then I'll get my beauty +sleep this winter. The unforeseen may happen; but I want you to +remember that when storms howl the loudest, your Mr. Quince and I +will be right around the bend of the creek, with our ear to the +ground, the reserves, listening to the good fight you boys are +making. Of course you could call the reserves, but you want the +glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than +show the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the +summer."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>A WINTRY CRUCIBLE</h3> + +<p>The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the +harbingers of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the +forthcoming siege. Great flights of song and game birds, in their +migration southward, lent an accent as they twittered by or honked +in mid-air, while scurrying clouds and squally weather bore witness +of approaching winter.</p> +<p>The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was +freed for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three +best horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from +the railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal +freedom must be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term +<i>close</i> herding would imply grazing the cattle on a section of +land, while <i>loose</i> herding would mean four or five times that +acreage. New routes must be taken daily; the weather would govern +the compactness and course of the herd, while a radius of five +miles from the corral was a liberal range.</p> +<p>The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. +Cold was to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry +atmosphere, there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually +the forerunner of a storm, the approach of which gave little +warning, requiring a sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken +unaware or at a disadvantage.</p> +<p>The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry +bed, and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary +to enter and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, +it was a matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing +the herd to spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as +occasion required. In handling, it was a decided advantage that the +little nucleus had known herd restraint, in trailing overland from +Texas, and were obedient, at a distance of fifty yards, to the +slightest whistle or pressure of a herdsman. Under favorable +conditions, the cattle could be depended on to graze until noon, +when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle homeward was +timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The duties of +each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of the +old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task.</p> +<p>"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said +Dell, as they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. +"My horse never wet a hair to-day."</p> +<p>"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The +first of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow +is only the beginning of December."</p> +<p>"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas."</p> +<p>"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle +this winter. Sit straight in your saddle."</p> +<p>A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early +and late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each +day was taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it +was a daily occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral +and see that all was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on +the part of the boys, either by whistling or singing, was always +given the cattle, and the customary grunting of the herd answered +for its own contentment. A parting look was given the horses, their +forage replenished, and every comfort looked after to the +satisfaction of their masters. By nature, horses are distant and +slow of any expression of friendship; but an occasional lump of +sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present ration of grain, +readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where they +nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders.</p> +<p>The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the +latter to a prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's +favorite, was a veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under +the saddle, restless, with a knowledge of his work that bordered on +the human. Dell favored Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best +point was a perfect rein, and from experience in roping could halt +from any gait on the space of a blanket. The relay horse was named +Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, Spanish marked in a black stripe +down his back, whose limbs were triple-ringed above the knees, or +where the body color merged with the black of his legs. Their names +had followed them from the trail, one of which was due to color +marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's chestnut was easily +traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering into toes.</p> +<p>The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was +preceded by an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south +wind swept the range, while at night a halo encircled the moon.</p> +<p>"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys +strolled up to the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. +"There are three stars inside the circle around the moon. That's +one of Granny Metcalf's signs."</p> +<p>"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old +granny omens may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold +cattle. All advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle +horses and little sleep."</p> +<p>The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the +bluff bank which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on +the contented herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie +of man and his beast was accented anew in their youthful +hearts.</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing +down on the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race +in an age so remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the +pyramids of Egypt were being built, ours was then an ancient +occupation. I love to hear Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!"</p> +<p>The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to +the westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, +each apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually +unerring, and the boys readily recalled the statement of the old +trail foreman, that the howling of wolves was an omen of a +forthcoming storm.</p> +<p>"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll +meet it. Our course to-morrow will be northwest."</p> +<p>It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following +afternoon, a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a +leaden horizon on the west and north. The next breeze carried the +icy breath of the northwest, and the cattle turned as a single +animal. The alert horsemen acted on the instant, and began throwing +the cattle into a compact herd. At the time they were fully three +miles from the corral, and when less than halfway home, the storm +broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow accompanied the gale, +blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad held a point of the +herd and the raging elements could be depended on to bring up the +rear.</p> +<p>It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came +had been anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its +wrath, dropped into the valley just above the corral, where the +boys doubled on the outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate +turned the wandering herd into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by +the storm, instinctively followed the leaders, and the gates were +closed and roped securely.</p> +<p>It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. +We corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter +drift means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of +to-day's storm. We must hold nearer the corral."</p> +<p>The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their +horses, safely reached the stable. A howling night followed; the +wind banked the snow against every obstacle, or filled the +depressions, even sifting through every crack and crevice in the +dug-out. The boys and their mounts were snug within sod walls, the +cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, and the storm wailed +its dirges unheeded.</p> +<p>Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger +and sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily +responded to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, +wind-swept of snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample +grazing for the day. The first storm of the winter had been met, +and its one clear lesson lent a dread to any possible successors. +The herd in the grip of a storm, cut off from the corral, had a new +meaning to the embryo cowmen. The best advice is mere theory until +applied, and experience in the practical things of life is not +transferable.</p> +<p>The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until +Christmas day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that +occasion, expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for +the culinary task, and only requiring his services on corraling the +herd at evening. The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, +knew their bed and water, and on the homeward circle all that was +required was to direct and time the grazing herd. The occasion had +been looked forward to, partly because it was their very own, their +first Christmas spread, and partly on account of some delicacies +that their sponsor had forced on Dell on parting at the railroad, +in anticipation of the day. The bounds of the supper approached a +banquet, and the question of appetites to grace the occasion was +settled.</p> +<p>The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but +the weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on +a northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the +time at which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the +sun and dropped like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds +appeared, and before the herd could be thrown together and started, +a hazy, leaden sky shot up, almost due west, heralding the quarter +of the coming storm. The herd sensed the danger and responded to +the efforts of the horsemen; but before a mile had been covered, it +was enveloped in swirling snow and veering its march with the +course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded the boys as to their +direction; they supposed they were pointing the cattle into the +valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on the +onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the +corral, conjecture as to their location became rife. From the +moment the storm struck, both boys had bent every energy to point +the herd into the valley, but when neither slope nor creek was +encountered, the fact asserted itself that they were adrift and at +the mercy of the elements.</p> +<p>"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!"</p> +<p>"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. +"The creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these +leaders into the valley."</p> +<p>The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of +horses merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent +forged to the front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. +Again and again the boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of +horses, but each effort was futile, as new leaders stepped into the +track of the displaced ones, and the course of the herd was +sullenly maintained.</p> +<p>The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a +crisis like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing +line needed heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, +a rod or two was the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not +trust each other out of sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet +amid all Joel Wells remained in possession of a stanch heart and an +unbewildered mind. "The creek's to our right," was his battle cry. +"Come on; let's turn these lead cattle once more."</p> +<p>Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on +record, but at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware +that the cattle were descending a slope--the welcome, southern +slope of the Beaver valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, +but the shelter of the hillside admitted of veering the herd on its +course, until the valley was reached. No knowledge of their +location was possible, and all the brothers could do was to cross +to the opposite point, and direct the herd against the leeward bank +of the creek. Every landmark was lost, with the herd drifting at +will.</p> +<p>The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse +neighed, was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two +turned a few rods aside and halted at their stable door. Even then +the boys could scarcely identify their home quarters, so enveloped +was the dug-out in swirling snow.</p> +<p>"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no +halting these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the +left. Come on; we must try and hold the herd."</p> +<p>The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, +when the boys resumed their positions on the point and front. +Allowing the cattle to move, assured a compact herd, as on every +attempt to halt or turn it, the rear forged to the front and +furnished new leaders, and in unity lay a hope of holding the +drifting cattle.</p> +<p>The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. +The banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these +meanderings of the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the +sheltering cut-bank that he hoped to reach, where refuge might be +secured against the raging elements. It lay several miles below the +homestead, and if the drifting herd reached the bend before +darkness, there was a fighting chance to halt the cattle in a +protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than the one in which +the corral was built, and if a successful entrance could only be +effected--but that was the point.</p> +<p>"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during +a lull, "and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd +on a direct angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers +to the north, it will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to +shelter the cattle this side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that +entrance, or abandon the herd, and run the chance of overtaking +it."</p> +<p>"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day +we branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute."</p> +<p>"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail +men."</p> +<p>"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they +don't know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. +Remember that story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing +himself across a gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump +over him? You could do that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me +rush them."</p> +<p>It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The +meanderings of the creek were not even recognizable, and only an +occasional willow could be identified, indicating the location of +the present drift. Occasionally the storm thickened or lulled, +rendering it impossible to measure the passing time, and the dread +of nightfall was intensified. Under such stress, the human mind +becomes intensely alert, and every word of warning, every line of +advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came back in their +hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress parade, +with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of their +own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand +waved lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground.</p> +<p>A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near +the entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving +the cattle from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the +cripples. The tree grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon +trail passed under it, making it a favorite halting place when +freighting in supplies. Dell remembered its shade, and taking the +lead, groped forward in search of the silent sentinel which stood +guard at the gateway of the cove. It was their one hope, and by +zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a road, the entrance +to the nook might be identified.</p> +<p>The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle +sheltered in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the +density of the herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, +southern bred and unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their +heads to the knee, indicating, with the closing day, a falling +temperature. Suddenly, and as clear as the crack of a rifle, the +voice of Dell Wells was heard in the lead:--</p> +<p>"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is +won or lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come +quick!"</p> +<p>The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the +day. Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry +wolves at the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into +the eye of the storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill +the drifting herd, new leaders forged to the front and threatened +to carry the drift past the entrance to the pocket. The critical +moment had arrived. Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell +rushed on the volunteer leaders, batting them over the heads, until +they whirled into the angling column, awakened from their stupor +and panic-stricken from the assault of a boy, who attacked with the +ferocity of a fiend, hissing like an adder or crying in the eerie +shrill of a hyena in the same breath. It worked like a charm! Its +secret lay in the mastery of the human over all things created. +Elated by his success, Dell stripped his coat, and with a harmless +weapon in each hand, assaulted every contingent of new leaders, +striking right and left, throwing his weight against their bodies, +and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them into +obedience.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in +line, and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the +bend was reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his +stable, and no sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering +nook, than their voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back +through the column for the first time since the storm struck. +Turning to the support of Dell, the older boy lent his assistance, +forcing the angle, until the drag end of the column had passed into +the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and to Dell's courage, in +the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human is so wondrously +constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one of these +brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring +of one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and +strength, and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to +the contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, +and by merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied +onrush of three thousand beeves.</p> +<p>Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth +across the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an +endless merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, +lowing for mates and cronies, while above howled the elements with +unrelenting fury.</p> +<p>"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for +the night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if +we could start a fire."</p> +<p>"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some +wood," said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail +of the cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire +was soon crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was +found below the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire +threw its shadows over the nook.</p> +<p>A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The +sentinel beat was paced in watches between the boys, the width of +the gateway being about two hundred yards. There was no abatement +of the storm, and it was hours before all the cattle bedded down. +The welfare of the horses was the main concern, and the possibility +of reaching home before morning was freely discussed. The instinct +of the horses could be relied on to find the way to their stable, +but return would be impossible before daybreak. The brothers were +so elated over holding the cattle that any personal hardship was +endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the elements was +noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse and rode +out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning announced +that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach home was +safe.</p> +<p>Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to +sleep out the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses +were given free rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid +galloping home. The snow crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted +their protest at hindrance, vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the +riders to the marrow, but on approaching the homestead the reins +were shaken out and the horses dashed up to the stable door.</p> +<p>"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted.</p> +<p>"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the +star as he swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our +Christmas supper in October."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>GOOD FIGHTING</h3> + +<p>Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had +freshened horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the +horses warmed to the work, and covered the two miles to the bend +before the sun even streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle +around the entrance to the cove, in search of cattle tracks in the +snow, and on finding that none had offered to leave their shelter, +joined his brother at the rekindled fire under the cliff. The +cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy snow underneath having +melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the diversity of +colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with the +surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like +window glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, +sheening the furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise +inflicting no harm.</p> +<p>The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the +interim of waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were +able to get an outline on the drift of the day previous. Both +agreed that the herd was fully five miles from the corral when the +storm struck, and as it dropped into the valley near the +improvements (added to their present location), it had drifted +fully eight miles in something like five hours.</p> +<p>"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he +hovered over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be +on the Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for +breakfast. Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect +day, and within thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all +easy to figure out in advance, but storms don't come by programme. +The only way to hold cattle on these plains in the winter is to put +your trust in corn-fed saddle horses, and do your sleeping in the +summer."</p> +<p>"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell.</p> +<p>"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days +and never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at +night to figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them +up the divide."</p> +<p>The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the +cattle preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around +in bunches until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent +them forth. In spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the +divides and wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle +fell to feeding so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, +and a dinner for boy and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the +valley the snow lay in drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides +and southern slopes, they were grazed to contentment and entered +their own corral at the customary hour for penning. Old axes had +been left at hand, and the first cutting of ice, to open the water +for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an hour, after which they +rode home to a well-earned rest.</p> +<p>Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as +rainbows and stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each +morning, after which the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a +general thaw and warm winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It +was a welcome relief; the cattle recovered rapidly, the horses +proved their mettle, while the boys came out more than victors. +They were inuring rapidly to their new occupation; every experience +was an asset in meeting the next one, while their general fibre was +absorbing strength from the wintry trial on the immutable +plain.</p> +<p>Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the +evening of the second day, a band of three made its appearance, +keeping in the distance, and following up the herd until it was +corraled at the regular hour. While opening the ice, the boys had +turned their horses loose among the cattle, and on leading them out +of the corral, the trio of prowlers had crept up within a hundred +yards. With a yell, the boys mounted and made a single dash at +them, when the wolves turned, and in their hurried departure fairly +threw up a cloud of snow.</p> +<p>"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, +'running like a scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old +Rowdy.</p> +<p>"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, +throwing his mount back on his haunches in halting.</p> +<p>"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll +look for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were +beauties! How I would like to have one of their hides for a +foot-rug!"</p> +<p>"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand +hills," said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger +would make them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all +three!"</p> +<p>Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his +mind to visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The +wolves had located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the +boys were aware of the presence of an enemy.</p> +<p>A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. +No tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing +weather temporarily released the range from the present wintry +grip. A fortnight of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and +frosty nights, ushering in a general blizzard, which swept the +plains from the British possessions to the Rio Grande, and left +death and desolation in its pathway. Fortunately its harbingers +threw its menace far in advance, affording the brothers ample time +to reach the corral, which they did at a late evening hour. The day +had been balmy and warm, the cattle came in, gorged from a wide +circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as if instinctive of +the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even kicking up +their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to reach +headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would strike +or pass away in blustering threats.</p> +<p>It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a +foot had fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, +howling as if all the demons of night and storm were holding high +carnival. Towards morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, +something unknown before, and awoke the boys, shivering in their +blankets. It was near their hour for rising, and once a roaring +fire warmed up the interior of the room, Joel took a peep without, +but closed the door with a shudder.</p> +<p>"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. +"This is a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I +doubt if we can reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor +cattle--"</p> +<p>The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, +well in advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed +the saddle stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself +against the elements without, he announced himself as ready for the +dash. It was less than a dozen rods between shack and stable, and +setting a tallow dip in the window for a beacon, he threw open the +door and sprang out. He possessed a courage which had heretofore +laughed at storms, but within a few seconds after leaving the room, +he burst open the door and fell on the bed.</p> +<p>"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a +blanket over my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll +come around in a little while."</p> +<p>Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than +inflamed eyes and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made +to succor the horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing +themselves together with a long rope, and reached the stable in +safety. On returning, Dell was thrown several times by the +buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, following the rope, +the dug-out was safely reached.</p> +<p>"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once +the shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, +lost my bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes +filled with snow."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0164-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0164-1.jpg" width="496" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">DELL WELLS.</p> +</div> + +<p>There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was +impossible to succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach +the corral, which was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of +the creek was known, and by hugging the leeward bank some little +protection would be afforded and the stream would lead to the +cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, there was a noticeable +abatement in the swirling snow, when the horses were blanketed to +the limit and an effort made to reach the corral. By riding +bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, at least +allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys lost +their course.</p> +<p>The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the +creek on a direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or +dismounting and trampling them out until a pathway was made. +Several times they were able to make a short dash between known +points, and by hugging the sheltering bank of the creek, safely +reached the corral. The cattle were slowly milling about, not from +any excitement, the exercise being merely voluntary and affording +warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, the cattle crowding +around each opening and drinking to their contentment. An immense +comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the bend, in places thirty +feet high and perpendicular, while in others it concaved away into +recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a window. It was +formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, while the +present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque +background to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of +swan's-down.</p> +<p>The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered +the herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the +cattle, given them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only +food was lacking in the present trial. After rendering every +assistance possible, the boys remained at the corral, hoping the +sun would burst forth at evening, only to meet disappointment, when +their horses were given free rein and carried them home in a short, +sure dash.</p> +<p>A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there +was little or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the +cattle were taken out and given every possible chance. The first +noticeable abatement of the storm was at evening of the third day, +followed by a diminishing fourth, when for the first time the herd +was grazed to surfeiting. The weather gradually faired off, the +cattle were recovering their old form, when a freak of winter +occurred. A week from the night the blizzard swept down from the +north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising thawing weather as +a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came with a heavy +snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a freezing +night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and hill +and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice.</p> +<p>It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The +emergency admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles +as do horses and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must +come in the form of human assistance. Even the horses were +helpless, as the snow was too deep under the sleet, and any attempt +to trample out pathways would have left the winter mounts bleeding +and crippled. The emergency demanded men, but two boys came to the +front in a resourceful manner. In their old home in Ohio, threshing +flails were sometimes used, and within an hour after daybreak Joel +Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a trail through the sleet +to the corral.</p> +<p>The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it +with the cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be +broken out. Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell +at the task as if it had been a threshing floor, and their flails +rang out from contact with the icy sleet. By the time they had +reached the divide it was high noon, and the boys were wearied by +the morning task. The crusted snow lay fully six inches deep on an +average, and if sustenance was rendered the cattle, whose hungry +lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy crust must be broken +over the feeding grounds.</p> +<p>It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few +acres," said Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the +cattle. Point them up the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and +come on ahead of the herd. If we can break out a hundred acres, +even, the cattle can nose around and get down to the grass. It's +our one hope."</p> +<p>The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking +out the shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the +feeding herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. +Fortunately the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary +assistance could be rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would +bare the ground on southern slopes and around broken places, +affording ample grazing. The flails rung until sunset, the sleet +was shattered by acres, and the cattle led home, if not +sufficiently grazed, at least with hunger stayed.</p> +<p>An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered +where falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the +corrals at an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The +cattle were aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while +outside the inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf +tracks. The herd, already weakened by the severity of the winter, +had been held under a nervous strain for unknown hours, or until +its assailants had departed with the dawn. The pendulum had swung +to an evil extreme; the sleet afforded splendid footing to the +wolves and denied the cattle their daily food.</p> +<p>"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up +the situation.</p> +<p>"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a +dose of poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be +placed near running water--those were the orders. We've got five +hundred cattle here to succor first. Open the gates."</p> +<p>The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The +sun scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were +beaten out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the +afternoon fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to +feast to its heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired +out the cattle, and it was with difficulty that they were prevented +from lying down in preference to grazing. On such occasions, the +boys threw aside their flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused +the exhausted animals, shifting them to better grazing and holding +them on their feet.</p> +<p>"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," +said Joel, as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something +must be done. Rest seems as needful as food. This is worse than any +storm yet. Half of them are lying down already. We must build a +bonfire to-night. Wolves are afraid of a fire."</p> +<p>Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or +having eaten snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the +herd was alarming, not from want of food, but from the hungry +prowlers of the night. Before leaving, the brothers built a little +fire outside the gate, as best they could from the fuel at hand, +expecting to return later and replenish the wood supply from +headquarters.</p> +<p>The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses +were fed and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry +logs, and from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the +corral opening. It was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, +and the light of the bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy +shadows on the combing snow which formed the upper rim. The night +was crimping cold, and at a late hour the boys replenished the fire +and returned home. But as they dismounted at the stable, the +hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down the valley on the frosty +air, and answered by a band far to the south in the sand hills.</p> +<p>"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for +the distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a +distance until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in +for the night."</p> +<p>Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, +but on every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the +night was to be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the +remainder, principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, +fronting one of the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On +riding within the corral, the dread of the excited cows proved to +be a monster wolf, crouching on a shelf of snow. He arose on his +haunches and faced the horsemen, revealing his fangs, while his +breast was covered with tiny icicles, caused by the driveling +slaver during the night's run. His weight was responsible for his +present plight, he having ventured out on the fragile comb of snow +above, causing it to cave down; and in the bewilderment of the +moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on which he then +rested.</p> +<p>It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and +answers passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was +in hand, the horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, +and yet the boys were powerless to make the kill. The situation was +tantalizing.</p> +<p>"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the +moment.</p> +<p>"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it."</p> +<p>"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility.</p> +<p>"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the +risk of a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't +dismount within twenty feet of him for this herd."</p> +<p>"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which +Mr. Paul killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof."</p> +<p>"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf +go--we can't make the kill."</p> +<p>"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a +roping horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll +lasso that wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre +gatepost and you can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going +to rope a wolf from your back," added Dell, patting the horse's +neck and turning back to the gate. "Show me the mettle of the State +that bred you."</p> +<p>"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. +Whatever happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to +a pinch. I'll get a fence-stay."</p> +<p>Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently +practiced with a rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and +the danger of the present moment surely admitted of no false +calculations. Dell dismounted with a splendid assurance, tightened +the cinches, tied his rope good and firm to the fork of the saddle +tree, mounted, and announced himself as ready. The cattle were +drifted left and right, opening a lane across the corral, and Dell +rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a position at the +gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the working out of +the experiment.</p> +<p>The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell +rode carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each +time, whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal +arose in an attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment +had come, as the horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, +the singing noose shot out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the +next instant Dog-toe whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a +blur behind as he shot across the corral. Only his rider had seen +the noose fall true, the taut rope bespoke its own burden, and +there was no time to shout. For an instant, Joel held his breath, +only catching a swerve in the oncoming horse, whose rider bore down +on the centre post of the double gate, the deviation of course +being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The horse flashed +through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in air, and a +dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The blur +passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death.</p> +<p>Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a +foot's length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle +tree, and thus saved horse and rider from an ugly fall.</p> +<p>"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," +said Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do +you want his hide, or can I have it?"</p> +<p>"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. +I'll have to sit up with you to-night."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a>>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>HOLDING THE FORT</h3> + +<p>The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny +slopes, the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under +cover of ice and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for +the time being and closing over when not in use.</p> +<p>The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the +brothers was to open more grazing ground, and to that end every +energy was bent. The range already opened lay to the north of the +Beaver, and although double the distance, an effort was made to +break out a trail to the divide on the south. The herd was turned +up the lane for the day, and taking their flails, the boys began an +attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as it was fully two miles +to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected by the sun before +high noon.</p> +<p>The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were +brought forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and +assisting in breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet +in width on an average, and by early noon the divide was reached. +Several thousand acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and +depressions running north and south across the watershed, new +grazing grounds could be added daily.</p> +<p>A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been +brought along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the +divide, the sun had softened the crust until it would break under +the weight of either of the boys. By walking well outside the +trail, the sleet crushed to the extent of five or six feet, and by +leading their horses, the pathway was easily doubled in width. +Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, easing from the +frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of thawing +weather.</p> +<p>"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly +freeze a shoal, and I've found one below the corral."</p> +<p>"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, +"but we must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment +the cattle quit drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is +regular old Billy Winter."</p> +<p>"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the +younger boy. "Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water +won't freeze."</p> +<p>"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for +to-night," said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter +for the present.</p> +<p>On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the +splendid trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known +shallow in the creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, +and forcing his horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a +riplet was unearthed as it purled from under an earthen bank.</p> +<p>"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins +and allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for +yourself."</p> +<p>Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, +after emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed +under another arch, its motion preventing freezing.</p> +<p>"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the +horses break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. +We'll build another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits +around this open water."</p> +<p>The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in +home. Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of +the wooden troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the +basins were handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and +dropped from horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure +that the poison would be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass +and a scented trace was made from every quarter, converging at the +open water and tempting baits.</p> +<p>"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't +get a wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done."</p> +<p>"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, +under the comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking +each other's bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except +poisoned suet."</p> +<p>The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought +in to the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight +of the cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of +wolves was at once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the +lads arrived in time to save the life of a young steer. The animal +had grazed beyond the limits of the herd, unconscious of the +presence of a lurking band of wolves, until attacked by the hungry +pack. Nothing but the energetic use of his horns saved his life, as +he dared not run for fear of being dragged down, and could only +stand and fight.</p> +<p>The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the +steer's rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter +of hoofs, they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly +forsook their victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by +easy count, as they halted within two hundred yards and lay down, +lolling their tongues as if they expected to return and renew the +attack.</p> +<p>"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as +the brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!"</p> +<p>"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it +impossible to get food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the +cattle hereafter."</p> +<p>"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said +Dell. "That's not a bad beginning."</p> +<p>"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month +longer, some of these cattle will feed the wolves."</p> +<p>There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was +turned into the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a +distance, the wolves followed, peeping over the divide as the herd +turned down the pathway leading to the corral. Fuel had been +sledded up, and after attending to the details of water and fire, +the boys hurried home.</p> +<p>The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of +the morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest +change was noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the +blizzard, every moderation of the temperature brought more snow or +sleet. Unless a general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any +change in the weather was undesirable.</p> +<p>A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the +boys replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination +covered the limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of +the poison for the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary +to the Beaver, counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. +Day was breaking, the horses were already fed, and he was impatient +for saddles and away.</p> +<p>"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the +stable.</p> +<p>"One," answered Joel.</p> +<p>"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight."</p> +<p>"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your +estimate. Leave a few for luck."</p> +<p>Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the +chickens. Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between +house and corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive +brother, together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed +him--not a dead wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. +Some of the troughs had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of +the poisoned suet had been licked out of the auger holes, while the +snow was littered with wolf tracks.</p> +<p>"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed +the scene and empty basins.</p> +<p>Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for +the number of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the +tallow. That's it; there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste +in each one's mouth. From the looks of the ground, there might have +been fifty wolves."</p> +<p>The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The +brothers awoke to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and +men the unforeseen is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay +down the general rule, and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No +one could foresee that the grip of winter would concentrate and +bring down on the little herd the hungry, roving wolf packs.</p> +<p>"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out +more running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make +new ones, and to-night we'll put out fifty baits."</p> +<p>The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. +Joel took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows +tributary to the corral. Three more were found within easy +distance, when the troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and +taken home to be refilled. It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning +and caution were his helpers; slighting nothing, ever crafty on the +side of safety, he cut, bored, and charred new basins, to double +the original number. After loading, for fear of any human taint, he +dipped the troughs in water and laid them in the shade to freeze. A +second trip with the sled was required to transport the basins up +to the corral, the day's work being barely finished in time for him +to assist in penning the herd.</p> +<p>"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail.</p> +<p>"Sixty odd."</p> +<p>"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all +the afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards +of the cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty."</p> +<p>"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to +do that until after the cattle were corraled."</p> +<p>The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which +would die out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the +cattle time to bed down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was +not the intention of the boys to return, and as they mounted their +horses to leave, all the welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst +forth.</p> +<p>"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a +gesture which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and +the feast is ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or +do you prefer the scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, +juicy kidney suet in the ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, +with fresh water right at hand. Now, have pallets and enjoy +yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, and be merry, for +to-morrow your pelts are mine."</p> +<p>"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel.</p> +<p>"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. +"I'll carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin +peddler."</p> +<p>"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished +his brother. "You're only entitled to one guess."</p> +<p>"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered +Dell with emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy +me."</p> +<p>A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast +was forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as +they covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of +expectation. Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, +on rounding a curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost +unhorsing his rider.</p> +<p>"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll +point them out and you count. There's another! There's two +more!"</p> +<p>It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead +wolves lay around every open water. Some barely turned from the +creek and fell, others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly +wandered away for short distances. The poison had worked to a +nicety; when the victims were collected, by actual count they +numbered twenty-eight. It was a victory to justify shouting, but +the gruesome sight awed the brothers into silence. Hunger had +driven the enemy to their own death, and the triumph of the moment +at least touched one sensitive heart.</p> +<p>"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued +voice, after surveying the ravages of poison.</p> +<p>"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're +soldiering this winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What +would Mr. Paul say if we let the wolves kill our cattle?"</p> +<p>After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, +leaving Dell at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, +revealing the fact that every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf +became the slogan of the present campaign. No mushy sentiment was +admissible--the fighting was not over, and the powder must be kept +dry. The troughs were accordingly sledded into the corral, where +any taint from the cattle would further disarm suspicion, and left +for future use.</p> +<p>The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a +boy. But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which +Forrest, when a cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of +winter-killed cattle with a team. The same principle applied in +pelting a wolf, where by very little aid of a knife, about the head +and legs, a horse could do the work of a dozen men. The corral +fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, Dog-toe could pull his own +weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and theory, when reduced to +the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head once bared, the +carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a gentle pull +from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a second +pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady mounting +and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, and +with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry.</p> +<p>Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs +had evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as +there was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or +attitude.</p> +<p>"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in +Nebraska and the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in +explanation. "Rabbits and other rodents are at home under this +sleet, and what is there to live on but stock? You have to hold the +cattle under the closest possible herd to avoid attack."</p> +<p>"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly +declared Dell. "Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the +wolves lick the bones of their brethren to-night, and to-morrow +I'll spread another banquet."</p> +<p>The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall +that night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but +every additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until +it appeared an open question whether they would fall a prey to the +wolves or succumb to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed +the local storm, during which three head of cattle, cripples which +had not fully recuperated, in the daily march to the divides fell +in the struggle for sustenance and fed the wintry scavengers. It +was a repetition of the age-old struggle for existence--the clash +between the forces of good and evil, with the wolf in the +ascendant.</p> +<p>The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one +wolves fell in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, +not an eye for an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out +looked like a trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every +trace of sentiment for the enemy, in the wintry trial which +followed, died out in the hearts of the boys.</p> +<p>Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves +against the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless +vigilance and sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by +fire and poison, alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle +fall to feed the wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to +the struggling boys.</p> +<p>A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One +morning near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the +corral at an early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a +light kill of wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they +were attempting to make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a +wolf, supposed to be poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, +snapping left and right before falling to the ground. Nothing but +the agility of Rowdy saved himself or rider, who was nearly +unhorsed, from being maimed or killed from the vicious, instant +assault.</p> +<p>The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to +the color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell +shook out his rope.</p> +<p>"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a +mad wolf, or else it's dying."</p> +<p>"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on +his flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just +that position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death."</p> +<p>But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the +victim, and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and +revealing fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the +wolf ran aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck +a strand of wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw +the animal flat, when it again curled its head backward and lay +quiet.</p> +<p>"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it +gets into that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a +live horse under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's +neck by a hand-breadth."</p> +<p>The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored +approach. Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as +the rope settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope +was cautiously wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, +and whirling Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane +leading to the herd's feeding ground to the south. The first +quarter of a mile was an indistinct blur, out of which a horse +might be seen, then a boy, or a wolf arose on wings and soared for +an instant. Suddenly the horse doubled back over the lane, and as +his rider shot past Joel, a fire of requests was vaguely heard, +regarding "a noose that had settled foul," of "a rope that was +being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle a wolf.</p> +<p>Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened +around the wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a +few effectual snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. +Shaking out a loop in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the +other trail, Rowdy carried his rider within easy casting distance, +the lasso hissed through the air, settled true, when two cow-horses +threw their weight against each other, and the wolf's neck was +broken as easily as a rotten thread.</p> +<p>"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the +safety of his saddle.</p> +<p>"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and +kicked the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, +it was thirty feet!"</p> +<p>In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range +cattle history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal +trial in the lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three +days, after the worst blizzard in the history of the range +industry, the siege was lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her +gladness. Sleet cracks ran for miles, every pool in the creek threw +off its icy gorge, and the plain again smiled within her own +limits. Had the brothers been thorough plainsmen, they could have +foretold the coming thaw, as three days before its harbingers +reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of poison, but +instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, not to +return the remainder of the winter.</p> +<p>"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said +Joel to his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring +down a wolf.</p> +<p>"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost +twelve cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll +play that game all winter."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A WINTER DRIFT</h3> + +<p>The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry +siege. If it could be weathered, victory would crown the first good +fight of the boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle +and fortifying against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot +with the plains, the occupation had almost forced itself on them, +and having tasted the spice of battle, they buckled on their armor +and rode forth. Without struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures +of life lose their nectar.</p> +<p>The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had +gradually weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the +elements, and steps must be taken to recuperate the herd.</p> +<p>"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the +thawing weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. +Unless the wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again."</p> +<p>Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen +to the creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the +herd any longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle +winter-killed! Every day during the last month I felt that another +week of winter would take half the herd. It was good fighting, and +I feel like shouting."</p> +<p>"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides +that weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them +all the range they need and only put them under close-herd at +night. There may be squally weather yet, but little danger of a +general storm. After this thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin +their spring ploughing."</p> +<p>A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost +absolute freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only +thrown together at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed +entirely by day, a mile square of dry slope was considered compact +enough for the night. The extra horses, which had ranged for the +winter around Hackberry Grove, were seen only occasionally and +their condition noted. The winter had haired them like llamas, the +sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse paws to the grass, and any +concern for the outside saddle stock was needless.</p> +<p>The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious +to know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his +brother for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire.</p> +<p>"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted +yet. I'm not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure +first."</p> +<p>"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the +younger boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from +them at Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell +them that we've won the fight. The spring's here."</p> +<p>"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will +keep, and we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you +remember the old weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion +and going out like a lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had +better keep an eye on it for fear it goes out like a lion. You can +go to the railroad in April."</p> +<p>There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no +response in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and +refused to come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the +shrub and willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs +of spring carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet +arise and roar like a young lion.</p> +<p>The one advantage of the passing days was the general +improvement in the herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the +buffalo grass, which grew on the slopes and divides, and with three +weeks of fair weather and full freedom the herd as a whole rounded +into form, reflecting its tenacity of life and the able handling of +its owners.</p> +<p>Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, +along the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck +near the middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and +found the cattle scattered to the limits of loose herding, but +under the eyes of two alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the +task, circling the herd on different sides, but before it could be +thrown into mobile form and pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl +of soft snow enveloped horses and riders, cattle and landscape. The +herd turned its back to the storm, and took up the steady, sullen +march of a winter drift. Cut off from the corral by fully five +miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and the brothers rode +to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle.</p> +<p>"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell.</p> +<p>"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, +"nothing short of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the +cattle. We're out until this storm spends its force."</p> +<p>"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and +the wolves are gone."</p> +<p>"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, +we'll miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a +question of horseflesh."</p> +<p>"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse +and overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the +storm."</p> +<p>"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these +cattle through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a +spring squall."</p> +<p>The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the +cattle turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the +compass was lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm +would hold a true course until its wrath was spent, and relying on +that slender thread, the boys attempted to veer the herd for the +sand hills. By nature cattle are none too gregarious, as only under +fear will they flock compactly, and the danger of splitting the +herd into wandering contingents must be avoided. On the march which +lay before it, its compactness must be maintained, and to turn half +the herd into the sand dunes and let the remainder wander adrift +was out of the question.</p> +<p>"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The +cattle are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be +cutting them to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead +unless the swing cattle will follow. It's better to drift until the +storm breaks than to split the herd into little bunches."</p> +<p>"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the +leaders ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in +line."</p> +<p>An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly +made. But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut +the cattle to the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, +the brothers chose to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the +sand hills.</p> +<p>"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated +efforts. "Turn the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An +hour of this wind would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or +die."</p> +<p>"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," +suggested Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after +a pack horse. We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn +this herd."</p> +<p>The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily +keep in a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he +reported the drifting column less than a quarter mile in +length.</p> +<p>"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can +barely hold their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas +drift, they fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day +they act like lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet."</p> +<p>The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for +man and horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver +before nightfall.</p> +<p>"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut +it quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that +Dog-toe has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, +until he just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind +and snow."</p> +<p>"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one +hundred yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country +looks alike. Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above +or below headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you +ought to recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll +take you straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, +some bread and meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour +before daybreak, and you'll find me in the lead of the herd."</p> +<p>The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in +their lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar +that sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was +always the hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle +would gladly halt and bed down, which promise lightened the passing +time. The work was easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of +the leaders, that the rear might easily follow, was the task of the +night or until relieved.</p> +<p>On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure +in his ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul +weather, he had barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver +when darkness fell. The horse was easily quartering the storm, but +the pelting snow in the boy's face led him to rein his mount from a +true course, with the result that several miles was ridden without +reaching any recognizable landmark. A ravine or dry wash was +finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a matter of +precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and +allowed his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the +eye of the storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason +was abandoned and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the +confident boy mounted his horse and took up his former course, +almost crossing the line of storm on a right angle. A thousand +visible forms, creatures of the night and storm, took shape in the +bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after dismounting and mounting +unknown times, he floundered across Beaver Creek fully three miles +below headquarters.</p> +<p>The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to +his horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and +champing the bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a +burning match revealed the outlines of a road under the soft snow. +The horse was given rein again and took the road like a hound, +finally sweeping under a tree, when another halt was made. It was +the hackberry at the mouth of the cove, its broken twigs bespoke a +fire which Dell had built, and yet the mute witness tree and +impatient horse were doubted. And not until Dog-toe halted at the +stable door was the boy convinced of his error.</p> +<p>"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot +more than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled +with me like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if +he'll forgive me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable +door.</p> +<p>The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you +shall have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if +you'll just forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night +will never be forgotten."</p> +<p>It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even +though the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its +cost. Before offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles +that were to make up the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm +forward an hour, and sought his blankets for a short rest. Several +times the howling of the wind awoke him, and unable to sleep out +the night, he arose and built a fire. The necessity of a pack +saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting a blanket, at the +appointed hour before dawn he started, with three days' rations for +man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw March wind +blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he reached +the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the +course of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the +mushy snow. A bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo +wallow; three others were passed, feeding with the wind, and +finally the sun burst forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie +Dog.</p> +<p>Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, +sustenance was following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened +in the snow, narrowed and broadened, and near the middle of the +forenoon the scattered herd was sighted. The long yell of warning +was answered only by a tiny smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek +bed, and before Joel was aware of his presence, Dell rode up to the +very bank under which the fire was burning.</p> +<p>"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do +snowballs taste for breakfast?"</p> +<p>"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope +this is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any +romance in it."</p> +<p>The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of +yourself," urged Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How +did you make out during the night?"</p> +<p>"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my +medicine," replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I +sang. You have no idea how good company cattle are. One big steer +laid his ear in Rowdy's flank to warm it. I took him by the horn +any number of times and woke him up; he was just staggering along +asleep. I talked to all the lead cattle, named them after boys we +knew at school, and sometimes they would look up when I called to +them. And the queerest thing happened! You remember old Redman, our +teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last night. There was a +black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and every time I +looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, his pug +nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen drift, +to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me +a score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's +face and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black +steer dropped back and never came to the lead again."</p> +<p>"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted +by his own experience.</p> +<p>"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might +get lost, but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, +and the cattle were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I +got my bearings, Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the +drift."</p> +<p>A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, +the horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on +the return. During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the +stragglers, and towards evening all the cattle were put under loose +herd and pointed north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a +comfortable camp was made under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the +Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank stalks of the wild sunflower made a +good substitute for fuel, and night settled over human and animal +in the full enjoyment of every comfort.</p> +<p>It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of +pack horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an +easy berth on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of +the horse's body girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and +the corn and blankets laid within the pack and all lashed securely. +The commissary supplies being light, saddle pockets and cantle +strings were found sufficient for their transportation.</p> +<p>The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several +miles the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would +require nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, +nothing like a compact herd or driving was permissible, and the +cattle were allowed to feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed +along the flank, the boys walked as a relief, and near evening or +on sighting the dunes, Dell took the pack horse and rode for their +shelter, to locate a night camp. The herd never swerved from its +course, and after sunset Joel rounded the cattle into compact form +and bedded them down for the night. A beacon fire of plum brush led +him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where supper awaited the +brothers.</p> +<p>"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, +"that the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had +to build fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail +men, could we do it?"</p> +<p>"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You +seem to forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. +Be grateful. Thank the wolf and go to sleep."</p> +<p>"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I +wish Mr. Paul could see it."</p> +<p>"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many +rousing fires."</p> +<p>Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, +the sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all +was quiet.</p> +<p>"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell +at daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the +first time we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into +three good feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have +the whole hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of +this camp, all worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. +So long as we hold the cattle, who cares for expense."</p> +<p>The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring +day lent its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the +afternoon the watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope +clown to the Beaver was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks +turned in, the rear pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd +found expression in loud and continued lowing.</p> +<p>"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being +killed," observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after +a pack horse, these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure +that we would lose a hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof."</p> +<p>"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I +fully expected to see our back track strung with dead animals."</p> +<p>The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. +Little wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's +experience, failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, +similar to the one which provoked the observation of the brothers, +may explain those placid depths, the deep tenacity and latent power +of the herd.</p> +<p>After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive +freighting outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred +oxen were employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were +encountered, the wagons were loaded beyond the strength of the +teams, and the oxen had arrived at the fort exhausted, spiritless, +and faint to falling under their yokes. Many oxen had been +abandoned as useless within one hundred miles of the post, thus +doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, these +scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the +wagon train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of +all the oxen were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. +One day a boy blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and +charged among his fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to +powder! The loose oxen broke from the herders, tore past the column +of wagons, frenzied in voice and action. The drivers lost control +of their teams, bedlam reigned, and the entire wagon train joined +in the general stampede. Wagons were overturned and reduced to +kindling in a moment of the wildest panic. The drivers were glad to +escape with their lives and were left at the rear. A cloud of dust +merely marked the direction which the oxen had taken. The teams, +six to eight yoke each, wrenched their chains, broke the bows, and +joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, still under yoke, were +found the next day fifteen miles distant from the scene of the +incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a month +previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that +the spirit of their teams was killed.</p> +<p>When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward +and given its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy +gradually crept far to the lead, and as the brothers left the +cattle and bore off homeward, the horse took up a gentle trot, +maintaining his lead until the stable was reached.</p> +<p>"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. +"That horse knows more than some folks."</p> +<p>"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his +horse's neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it +myself some day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of +myself."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A WELCOME GUEST</h3> + +<p>The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was +ushered in to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the +pollen on the willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed +underfoot, and the creek purled and sang as it hastened along. The +cattle played, calves were born, while the horses, in shedding +their winter coats, matted the saddle blankets and threw off great +tufts of hair where they rolled on the ground.</p> +<p>The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon +returning far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted +Joel, on coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price +for a few weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. +The storekeeper was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a +hundred dollars on the shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from +two to two dollars and a half. And I have a letter from Forrest. +The long winter's over! You can shout! G'long, mules!"</p> +<p>During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. +"Keep busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water +supply and plan to acquire more cattle."</p> +<p>"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams +between here and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, +and he'll explain things when he comes. Once a week will be often +enough to ride around the cattle."</p> +<p>An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. +The garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired +around the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites +for two other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was +ample to fill large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for +use during the dry summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of +the ranch could be greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around +headquarters had withstood every drouth, owing to the shade of the +willows overhead, the roots of which matted and held the banks +intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were accordingly cut for the +new dams and the work begun in earnest.</p> +<p>"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced +Joel. "It would waste too much time to go and come. When we build +the upper one, we can work from home."</p> +<p>The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built +several miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the +creek, merely to hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow +cuttings were planted along the borders and around the dams, the +ends of which were riprapped with stone, and a spillway cut to +accommodate any overflow during freshets.</p> +<p>The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, +and the reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. +The unusual winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the +ground, and the grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, +while the garden grew like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year +before had repaid well in forage, and was again planted. In the +face of another drouthy summer, the brothers sowed as if they fully +expected to reap. "Keep busy" was the slogan of the springtime.</p> +<p>The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. +Nearly one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the +peltry had commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers +swaggered in their saddles. But still the herds failed to come.</p> +<p>"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were +expecting company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some +of these evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the +lead of his herd. Let's make out that we're looking for them."</p> +<p>Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail +man appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of +the second week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen +of them on the trail."</p> +<p>"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion.</p> +<p>"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all +swim. Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon +across swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is +nothing to those trail men."</p> +<p>Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of +hail, Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the +two rolled over and over on the grass.</p> +<p>"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," +explained Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are +my boys. Look at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two +mothers. Boys, shake hands with Mr. Lovell."</p> +<p>The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. +He was a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, +with an energy that pulsed in every word and action. There was a +careworn expression in his face, while an intensity of purpose +blazed from hungry, deep-set eyes which swept every detail of the +scene at a glance. That he was worried to the point of exhaustion +was evident the moment that compliments were exchanged.</p> +<p>"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, +if I am correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from +Dodge to the Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the +worst drouths in the history of the trail confronts us, and if you +can water my cattle between the Prairie Dog and the Republican +River, you can name your own price."</p> +<p>"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the +blackboard, "before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. +Lovell the water."</p> +<p>All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the +single seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek +were five beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows +interlapped. The pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, +the quartette turned homeward, satisfied of the abundant water +supply.</p> +<p>"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest +to his employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of +the sun that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the +pools until the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver."</p> +<p>"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--"</p> +<p>"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in +this ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the +asking. Am I right, boys?"</p> +<p>"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly +replied Joel.</p> +<p>"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man +Joel Wells that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, +these boys of mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not +out to rob a neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking +Water, you can order the herds to pull out for the Platte."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get +the water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a +man his price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm +welcome to it for nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they +come bearing gifts. Are you three plotting against me?"</p> +<p>"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe +all right. In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact +that you have five horses on this ranch. They were left here last +fall, expecting to pick them up this spring. Two of them were +cripples and three were good cow horses. Now, these boys of mine +are just branching out into cattle, and they don't need money, but +a few good horses are better than gold. That's about the plot. What +would you say was the right thing to do?"</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But +I'm still in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?"</p> +<p>The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds +reach here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a +number of tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it +through without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a +fighting chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent +in an abandoned steer for you, but these boys--"</p> +<p>"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. +"I'll give all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are +worthless to me, but good as gold to these boys. What else?"</p> +<p>"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, +speak a good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I +think you'll find them on the square."</p> +<p>"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he +alighted at the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla +will not exceed five thousand dollars. It cost me double that +getting out of Texas."</p> +<p>Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside +drouth, which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the +trail as in other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the +concentration of a year's drive into a more limited space of time. +Unconscious of its value, the boys awoke to the fact that they +controlled the only water between the Prairie Dog and the +Republican River--sixty miles of the plain. Many of the herds were +under contract and bond to cattle companies, individuals, army +posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse would be accepted for any +failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an ill-wind to some, but +the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could extend relief.</p> +<p>After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest +had unearthed the winter struggle of his protégés, +and gloating over the manner in which the boys had met and overcome +the unforeseen, he assumed an observant attitude in addressing his +employer.</p> +<p>"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," +said he, "to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, +here on the Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of +over five hundred cattle. And you must recollect that these were +rag-tag and bob-tail, the flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per +cent cripples, walking on crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, +under herd, a sleet over the range for six weeks, against your ten +per cent kill on an open range. You must have a slatterly, +sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle +interests. "That was a first report that you are quoting from," +said he to Forrest. "It was more prophecy than statement. We must +make allowances for young men. There is quite a difference between +getting scared and being hurt. My beef outfit has orders to go +three hundred miles south of our range and cover all round-ups +northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift was heavy, but I'm +not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. Promptly meeting +government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are two weeks +behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. Help me +figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel.</p> +<p>"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night."</p> +<p>"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of +these boys can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound +train. Wire your beef herds to pull out for the Platte. You can +trust the water to improve from here north."</p> +<p>"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman.</p> +<p>"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That +will cover the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, +and time our drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud."</p> +<p>"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get +an extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my +bonds will amount to a fortune."</p> +<p>"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The +government don't expect the impossible."</p> +<p>"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts +a bond, and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks +the plank, it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not +how much sleep I lose, red tape never worries."</p> +<p>The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. +"The programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the +latter. "The horses will be ready at daybreak."</p> +<p>It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part +of the brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the +drover, and a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every +way.</p> +<p>"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," +said Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman +in a thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's +rather deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him +about the men on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter +kill when they could drift, and the round-up will catch every +living hoof. He was too foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this +long yell about the drouth interfering with delivery dates keeps +the trail outfits against the bits. Admitting his figures, the +water expense won't be a drop in the bucket. It affords good +worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting form. I'm glad he +came along; treat him fair and square, and his friendship means +something to you, boys."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>AN ILL WIND</h3> + +<p>The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the +morning. Joel accompanied the drover, the two best horses being +under saddle, easily capable of a road gait that would reach the +railroad during the early forenoon. The direct course lay across +country, and once the sun flooded the Beaver valley, the cowman +swung around in the saddle and his practical eye swept the range. +On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken country beyond, including +the sand hills, he turned to his guide.</p> +<p>"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future +before you. This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our +horses' feet carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have +the range here for thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy +young steers; pay any price; but get more cattle. The growth of +young steers justifies any outlay. Come down to Dodge about the +first of August. This drouth is liable to throw some bargains on +that market. Be sure and come. I'll keep an eye open in your +interest on any cattle for sale."</p> +<p>The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were +not entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of +the brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the +team stood in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of +sight to the south the buckboard started on its northern errand. +Dell accompanied it, protesting against his absence from home, but +Forrest brushed aside every objection.</p> +<p>"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we +may be back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. +Turn your ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't +halfway through our figuring."</p> +<p>Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the +north, the same day that Forrest and his employer started up the +trail from the south, and at the expected point the two foremen +met. The report showed water in abundance from the Republican River +northward, confirming Forrest's assertion to his employer, and +completing the chain of waters between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest +returned with the buckboard, which reached the Beaver after +midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep.</p> +<p>"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of +Joel's bunk, "that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good +fighting. Yes, I heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I +was with you the night you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all +along the line, wasn't it good fighting?"</p> +<p>"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets.</p> +<p>"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of +the March drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't +trust poor old Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down +the creek here a few miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the +horse forgot more than he himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. +As long as a man hearkens to his horse, there is no danger of bad +counsel being thrust on him."</p> +<p>The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the +exacting nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, +and while harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention +to setting the ranch in order to water the passing herds.</p> +<p>"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas +fever among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd +until after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry +Grove, and keep a dead-line fully three miles wide between the +wintered and through trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, +cripples or strays, hold them down the creek--between here and the +old trail crossing. For fear of losing them you can't even keep +milk cows around the ranch, so turn out your calves. Don't ask me +to explain Texas fever. It's one of the mysteries of the trail. The +very cattle that impart it after a winter in the north catch the +fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a mild form, in +through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or northern +wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The sure, +safe course is to fear and avoid it."</p> +<p>The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in +charge of Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had +ridden to the Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a +moment at parting.</p> +<p>"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing +ten days to reach here--"</p> +<p>He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, +come out on the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you +will see a dust cloud in the south. The long distance between +waters will put the herd through on schedule time. Come out and +meet me."</p> +<p>The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were +over. The herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised +relief to the drover and his cattle.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is +from one to three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped +from sight. "The government, so he says, allows three cents for +watering cavalry horses and harness mules. He tells me that the new +settlers, in control of the water on the trail, in northern Texas, +fairly robbed the drovers this year. The pastoral Texan, he +contends, shared his canteen with the wayfarer, and never refused +to water cattle. He wants us to pattern after the Texans--to give +our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell raised the question +of arranging to water his herds from our beaver ponds, do you +remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad money +wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses."</p> +<p>"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said +Joel, "but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He +says we must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in +August, and I'm going."</p> +<p>Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. +"Any one tell your fortune lately?"</p> +<p>"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. +One of those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand +here and you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range +had a value, and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, +and stock it. What he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. +Lovell sees now, you may see a year hence. These men have proved +their friendship, and why stand in our own light? Our ability to +hold cattle was tested last winter, and if this range is an asset, +there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm going to Dodge in +August."</p> +<p>Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in +order. Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling +in to headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on +the general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to +the Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that +the cattle might reach the former river the following evening. The +brothers knew to a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the +trailing pace, and could anticipate to an hour the time required to +move a herd from the Prairie Dog to the Beaver.</p> +<p>The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. +The dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between +imaginary landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a +sentinel, stood a lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt +thou go and no farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of +condition, were brought home and located below the ranch, and the +house stood in order.</p> +<p>The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach +the divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the +Beaver, the leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty +cattle that had scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the +heavy beeves identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point +man, the situation cleared.</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?"</p> +<p>"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next +swell of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on.</p> +<p>It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd +snailed forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety +of color, the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral +picture of strength and beauty.</p> +<p>The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the +opposite side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, +and while the two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing +lad on the left reined out and saluted the boys.</p> +<p>With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember +the day we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?"</p> +<p>"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man +across the herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty +greeting.</p> +<p>"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the +lad who rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking +hands. Turn your horses the other way and tell me how you like it +out West."</p> +<p>Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves +was fully a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, +the wagon and remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman +still at the rear. The dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the +distance, and while Joel pondered on its location over the divide, +a horseman emerged from a dip in the plain and came toward him in a +slow gallop.</p> +<p>"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, +slacking his horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which +swell was the real divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch +last summer, but the frost has mellowed up the soil and the grass +has overgrown the paths until every trace is gone. I planted a +guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's Trail,' so the other foremen +will know where to turn off. All the old man's herds are within +three or four days' drive, and after that it's almost a solid +column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of the rear +herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle."</p> +<p>The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle +stock, but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been +dropping our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will +bring them through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going +to saw off three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, +good for next year."</p> +<p>A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions +given the point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once +man and boy had fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was +given and the cattle turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. +The wagon and remuda never halted; on being joined by the two +horsemen, they continued on into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the +hour named to water the herd, and punctual to the moment the +beeves, with a mile-wide front, were grazed up to the creek.</p> +<p>The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner +was over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in +mimicking a trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd +was within sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in +below the ranch for the noon camp.</p> +<p>Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own +men. "Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out +to-night. I may not be with you, but water in the Republican at six +o'clock to-morrow evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he +concluded, addressing the segundo.</p> +<p>The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to +quench thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the +strong, and the excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and +thirsty. An hour is the minimum time, during which half the herd +may drink and lie down, affording the others the chance to approach +without fear and slake their thirst.</p> +<p>The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the +water were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, +while the others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. +The previous scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy +beeves, equally select with the vanguard, floundered into the +pools, lowed in their joy, drank to gorging, fought their fellows, +staggered out of the creek, and dropped to rest in the first dust +or dry grass.</p> +<p>Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, +when he and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, +and sent the second herd on its way. Each of the three advance +herds must reach the Republican the following day, and it was scant +two o'clock when the third one trailed out from the Beaver. With +mature cattle there were few cripples, and the day ended with an +addition to the little ranch of the promised horses and a few +tender-footed beeves. There were two more herds of heavy beef +cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next forenoon, and +the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, intended for +army delivery, had passed the ranch.</p> +<p>The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From +that far distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages +the one has ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds +promptly reached the Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, +and passed on before noon.</p> +<p>"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when +the last herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six +herds of contract cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of +beeves, but Mr. Lovell detailed him to oversee this next division +across to the Platte. Forrest will follow Quirk with the last five +herds of young steers, slated for the old man's beef ranch on the +Little Missouri. That puts our cattle across the Beaver, but you'll +have plenty of company for the next month. Mr. Lovell has made a +good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll give these trail +drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, there are two +things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, and that +the cows will calve in the spring."</p> +<p>Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. +Before dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon +and remuda, and returned to the tent.</p> +<p>"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping +his saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for +water this year that every foreman seems to think that unless he +reaches the river to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart +was the limit agreed on before leaving Dodge, and here I am with +six herds--twenty thousand cattle!--within twenty miles of the +Beaver. For fear of a stampede last night, we threw the herds left +and right, two miles off the trail. The Lord surely loves cattle or +the earth would have shook from running herds!"</p> +<p>That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the +Lovell herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the +boys with his usual rough caress.</p> +<p>"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through +with the two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and +an extra man to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and +friends, will be lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch +while you're gone. One of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, +remember. I'll meet you to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the +cripples out and point them in to the new tanks below. Shake out +your fat horses, sweat them up a little--you're needed at the rear +of Lovell's main drive."</p> +<p>The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear +herds reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to +safe camps beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef +at headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty +where the year before he lay wounded.</p> +<p>The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The +lead one yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard +disgorged a few over one hundred head. The two contingents were +thrown together, the brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, +where they were freed on a perfect range. A count of the cripples +and fagged cattle, culled back at headquarters, brought the total +discard of the sixteen herds up to two hundred and forty-odd, a +riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a young steer to a +seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the reckoning.</p> +<p>Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, +had reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was +to be had in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with +interest, and once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, +Forrest and the brothers rode around the pools to take +soundings.</p> +<p>"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss +runs from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the +heaviest," said Joel, summing up the situation.</p> +<p>"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average +of five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the +reason it's standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the +stars, but the water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell +those waiting foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch +will water every trail herd, or break a tug trying."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>WATER! WATER!</h3> + +<p>"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of +trail foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out +better than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a +trifle. From the present outlook, we can water the drive."</p> +<p>"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" +trail boss. "I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw +River at Dodge was only running at night."</p> +<p>"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," +doggedly said a pock-marked foreman.</p> +<p>"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W +man. "The faraway hills are always green."</p> +<p>The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the +total drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, +addressing the pock-marked foreman.</p> +<p>"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty +thousand head," came the languid reply.</p> +<p>"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to +Joel. "Better revise your water estimate."</p> +<p>"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I +may have to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle."</p> +<p>"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, +arising. "My cattle must have water this evening."</p> +<p>The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we +drop our strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that +Mr. Lovell mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be +abandoned."</p> +<p>"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the +little man.</p> +<p>"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear +ones have orders to bring through to you."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our +range, and crippled cattle are as good as gold to us."</p> +<p>Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys +followed, and Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on +the drag end of your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll +get up a fresh horse and overtake you."</p> +<p>"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign +your petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm +as good as afoot."</p> +<p>The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," +said Joel to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the +lead herd, come in on the water above the field. The upper pools +are the deepest, and let your cattle cover the water evenly."</p> +<p>"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to +come up to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have +suffered from thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, +if grazed up to it. You may take one point and I'll take the +other."</p> +<p>The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. +Among the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. +Wells Brothers were being thrown in contact with the most practical +men that the occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The +novelty of trailing cattle vast distances had its origin with the +Texans. Bred to the calling, they were masters of the craft. In the +hands of an adept outfit of a dozen men, a trail herd of three +thousand beeves had all the mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The +crack of a whip was unheard on the trail. A whispered order, +followed by a signal to the men, and the herd turned, grazed to its +contentment, fell into column formation, and took up its march--a +peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact with these +men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the +boys.</p> +<p>The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a +mile of the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel +Wells. But instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on +into the lead, the action being seemingly understood by every one +except the new hand on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive +column of beeves yield to his slightest pressure, as a ship to the +hand of the helmsman, as he veered the leaders out of the broken +trails and guided the herd around the field to the upper pools. On +nearing the water, the deposed point men deployed nearer the lead, +when the object of their position explained itself. On sighting the +ponds, the leaders broke into a run, but the four horsemen at hand +checked the excited dash, and the herd was led up to the water in +column formation. It was the mastery of man over the creature.</p> +<p>The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The +swarthy little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an +Indian agency in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under +contract to different cattle companies, in adjoining states and +territories. The tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but +the point of delivery was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch +outfit would receive the cattle.</p> +<p>The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven +on speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, +and the men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot.</p> +<p>"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, +"of walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A +mount of six horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it +won't do on the trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on +the Platte. Actually, this afternoon is the first time I have felt +a horse under me since we crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of +paper, please. I want to give you a bill of sale for these six drag +ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I carry written authority to +give a bill of sale, and it will always protect your possession of +the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a head in Ogalalla, but +when they round into form again next summer, some brand ferret +passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I cull out +here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned."</p> +<p>The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. +The rush of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during +their waking hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting +of cripples to the new tanks below was pressing, and order must be +established. The water in the pools was the main concern, a thing +beyond human control, and a matter of constant watchfulness. A +remark dropped during the day, of water flowing at night, was not +lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells.</p> +<p>"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W +foreman, while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only +running at night?"</p> +<p>"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by +day," replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of +the plain, including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the +south, only flow at night. It's their protection against the sun's +absorption. Mark these pools at sunset and see if they don't rise +an inch to-night. Try it and see."</p> +<p>Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. +The extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was +indulged in and freely expressed.</p> +<p>"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, +sleepless in his blankets, "it'll double our holding of +cattle."</p> +<p>"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got +to stand by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the +Republican. I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are +gone, we'll round up the wintered cattle, drift them over to the +south fork of the Republican, and get some one to hold them until +frost falls. Then we'll ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, +and that will free the new tanks--water enough for twenty trail +herds. We have the horses, and these trail outfits will lend us any +help we need. By shifting cattle around, I can see a month's +supply. And there may be something in water rising at night. We'll +know in the morning."</p> +<p>Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the +trail foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss +knew," shouted Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The +water rose in every pool. The lower one gained an inch and the +upper one gained two. The creek is running freely. The water must +be rising out of the ground. Let those Texans bring on their herds. +We have oceans of water!"</p> +<p>The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new +ranch. It took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared +for, and a hand was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag +end. Open house was maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered +a horse, and left his benediction on the Beaver.</p> +<p>The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first +foremen to arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up +at sunset, with a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual +easy manner inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?"</p> +<p>"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising +the situation. "One of your men hurt?"</p> +<p>"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. +"Just a little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant +water, out of cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets +into the bones of the best of us. I'm not feeling very well +myself."</p> +<p>Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the +poor fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you +and I carry him?"</p> +<p>"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him +in," answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel +Wells?"</p> +<p>"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and +we'll bring the sick man in at once."</p> +<p>It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. +The unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, +Straw had skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules.</p> +<p>"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after +greeting Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one +of the trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has +to go back to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify +them for the trip."</p> +<p>The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued +Straw, "by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the +best men that ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him +on his feet again. Now, if one of you boys will take the team back +to--"</p> +<p>"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this +hospital wants done--We're running a relief station now--watering +the entire drive this year. Where's your outfit camped?"</p> +<p>"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's +empty. Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in +time for breakfast."</p> +<p>"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, +is a horse that's easy curried."</p> +<p>The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time +the sick man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his +cattle made welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, +Straw had lost his place in the overland march, two herds having +passed him and crossed the Beaver.</p> +<p>"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who +arrived together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter +that'll rob you right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the +bill in advance. This cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth +three cents a head, and I'll count you down to a toddling calf and +your wagon mules. Your drafts are refused honor at the Beaver +banks--nothing but the long green passes currency here. You +varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage of a widow +woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me."</p> +<p>"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of +the foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept +with me? How's the black cow I gave you last summer?"</p> +<p>Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" +said he, recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. +Sit down. Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like +lettuce?"</p> +<p>"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the +two mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in +smoke. You're not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, +ransack both our wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some +dainties for this sick lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; +he never has anything to eat; Injuns won't go near his wagon."</p> +<p>Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, +make yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and +they're our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when +you get on your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count +on a job with me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit +is relieved. This fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. +I'll keep an eye over you until you are well. S'long, Jack."</p> +<p>The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. +There were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of +advancing summer the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources +of the ponds were a constant source of surprise, as an occasional +heavy beef caved a foot into an old beaver warren, which poured its +contents into the pools. At the end of the first fortnight, after +watering fifty-eight herds, nearly half the original quantity of +water was still in reserve.</p> +<p>A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the +arrival of herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water +reserves suffered freely, more from the sun's absorption than from +cattle, until the supply became a matter of the most serious +concern. The pools would not have averaged a foot in depth, the +flow from the springs was a mere trickle, the beaver burrows +sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and there must be some limit +to the amount the parched soil would yield.</p> +<p>The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the +second week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack +Sargent, was up and observant of the situation. True to his +calling, he felt for the cattle, and knew the importance of water +on the Beaver to the passing drive.</p> +<p>"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the +emergency. "Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun +an advantage. It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You +must deepen these pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest +these ponds a few days, or only water late at night. You have water +for weeks yet, but don't let the sun rob you. These ponds are +living springs compared to some of the water we used south of Red +River. Meet the herds on the divide, and pilot the early ones to +the tanks below, and the late ones in here. Shifting in your saddle +rests a horse, and a little shifting will save your water."</p> +<p>The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was +installed as host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their +saddles. The majority of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and +after a consultation with the foremen their cattle were started so +as to reach the tanks by day or the ranch at evening. The month +rounded out with the arrival of eighteen herds, only six of which +touched at headquarters, and the fourth week saw a distinct gain in +the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys barely touched at +home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, piloting in +herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and content +with the crumbs that fell to their range.</p> +<p>The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral +history of the West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana +cattle trail was marked by the bones of forty thousand cattle that +fell, due to the want of water, during the months of travail on +that long march. Some of this loss was due to man's inhumanity to +the cattle of the fields, in withholding water, but no such charge +rested on the owners of the little ranch on the Beaver.</p> +<p>A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's +drive. Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had +strength in reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and +Platte Rivers. The fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which +touched at the ranch; half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had +neither a cripple nor a stray to bestow, but shared the welcome +water and passed on.</p> +<p>One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It +was from Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous +invitation to come to Dodge and look over the market.</p> +<p>"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have +returned to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is +inviting. The boom prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. +Any investment in cattle now is perfectly safe.</p> +<p>"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will +pass your ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring +a mount of horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this +year's drive is here, unsold. Be sure and come."</p> +<p>"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter.</p> +<p>"I am," answered Joel with emphasis.</p> +<p>"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap +that no other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to +buy her. Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to +buy or all want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys +have told me; but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I +can see that he's going to take advantage of that market and buy +about ten thousand cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. +I'll stay with Dell until you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, +and I'll help you hold them this winter."</p> +<p>The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust +cloud, the slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching +cavalcade. The last week admitted of taking an account of the +cattle dropped at the new ranch. From the conserves of its owners, +one hundred and four herds had watered, over three hundred thousand +cattle, the sweepings of which amounted to a few over eleven +hundred head, fully fifty of which, exhausted beyond recovery, died +after reaching their new range.</p> +<p>By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August +was ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the +division foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the +morning, in advance of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for +Joel. Dell answered for the brothers, the older one and Sargent +being above at Hackberry Grove.</p> +<p>"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. +"Make haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of +six horses and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the +seventh. My outfit will barely touch here in passing. We're due to +receive cattle in Dodge on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can +overtake us before night. Make haste."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>A PROTECTED CREDIT</h3> + +<p>The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. +The importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, +he started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were +met returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the +breathless report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the +homeward ride.</p> +<p>"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging +out of the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a +feed of corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince +says that that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a +camp at night, or trail a remuda like a hound."</p> +<p>An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a +wild-goose chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I +can make a hand coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your +name goes on the pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of +the ranch, anyhow. There isn't much to do except to ride the +dead-line twice a day. The wintered cattle are located; and the +cripples below--the water and their condition will hold them. Keep +open house, and amuse yourselves the best you can. That's about all +I can think of just now."</p> +<p>Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his +years, he was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, +the far-famed trail-town of the West, and without visible resources +buy cattle, was a fit subject for musing. There the drovers from +Texas and the ranchmen from the north and west met and bartered for +herds--where the drive of the year amounted to millions in value. +Still the boy carried a pressing invitation from a leading drover +to come, and neither slacking rein nor looking back, he was soon +swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain.</p> +<p>Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said +the latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy +cattle without money gets me."</p> +<p>"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured +a start in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a +thousand head out of the cripples this year, what have they cost +you?"</p> +<p>"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market +where buyers and sellers meet."</p> +<p>"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of +two years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in +Texas. Cattle companies were organized on the very summit of that +craze. Then came the slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price +nearly forty per cent. This year there is a further falling. I'm +giving you Texas conditions. Half the herds at Dodge to-day are +being handled by the receivers of cattle companies or by trustees +for banks. That accounts for the big drive. Then this drouth came +on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any purpose, except to +restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. They'll buy +the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get good +and ready."</p> +<p>Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern +cowman can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?"</p> +<p>"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his +neck, all the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is +pouring into cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as +good as gold. Now, when all that investment is trying to withdraw +from cattle, they become a drag on the market. The Simple Simons +ain't all dead yet. Joel will buy cattle."</p> +<p>"He may, but I don't see how."</p> +<p>"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are +known in Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during +the drouth, has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your +behalf, is as good as money in the bank. Joel will come back with +cattle. My only fear is, he won't strain his credit."</p> +<p>"Credit! Who would credit us?"</p> +<p>"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your +showing at the same age. They have fought their way up and know who +to credit. Your range and ability to hold cattle are your best +assets. We must shape up the ranch, because Joel will come in with +cattle."</p> +<p>"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, +if Joel comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and +shout as loud as any of you."</p> +<p>"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's +saddle up horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I +want to get the lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the +cattle."</p> +<p>Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles +a day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the +lone horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman +halted until Joel overtook the travelers.</p> +<p>"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to +crowd three days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with +you, but I had a wire to pick you up."</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more +cattle," admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our +way now to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of +cattle in sight for you."</p> +<p>"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if +it takes any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy.</p> +<p>"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man +do the worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he +has everything all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, +but it's as clear as mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four +days."</p> +<p>The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after +sunrise, a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the +heat-waves rolled up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat +and dust crusted over the horses under saddle, without variation of +pace or course. Only three herds were met, feeling their way +through the mirages, or loitering along the waters. Traveling by +night was preferable, and timing the route into camps and marches, +the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was sighted in advance of the +schedule.</p> +<p>The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd +had been sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made +snug, a conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell +alighted.</p> +<p>"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, +amid general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on +enough cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to +receive them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll +receive to-morrow afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but +his outfit ought to reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on +this market, and have all the cattle in sight that I want. Several +deals are pending, awaiting the arrival of this boy. Come to town +to-night. I'll take Joel under my wing right now."</p> +<p>Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and +the vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and +following down the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail +wagon encamped. A number of men were about, including a foreman; +and at the request of Mr. Lovell to look over their cattle and +horses again the camp took on an air of activity. A small remuda +was corralled within ropes, running from choice to common horses, +all of which were looked over carefully by the trio, including the +wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, and led by the +foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to bunch the +herd.</p> +<p>Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig +and leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the +best herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and +I've kept the deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it +together. It runs full thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred +threes and the remainder twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds +for my beef ranch, because I double-winter all my steer cattle--it +takes two winters in the north to finish these Texas steers right. +Now, if you can handle the threes, the remnant of twos, and the +saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, and barrel. The +threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next fall, and you +can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two thousand of the +two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we look them +over, leave me to close the trade."</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy +cattle without money," earnestly said Joel.</p> +<p>"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this +herd together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, +and a ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can +buy, with or without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like +the cattle and want them, leave it all to me."</p> +<p>"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested +Joel.</p> +<p>"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these +southern horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year +you'll be running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending +others on fall round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll +have them in the pink of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few +under sixty horses, as fifty head were detailed out here to +strengthen remudas that had to go to the Yellowstone. This foreman +will tell you that he topped out twenty-five of the choice horses +before the other trail bosses were allowed to pick. As the remuda +stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. A year hence one will be +as good as the other. You'll need the horses, and by buying down to +the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and free, it will help me +to close the trade, in our mutual interest."</p> +<p>The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by +quietly edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be +easily looked over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the +prospective buyers, the foreman had the cattle sufficiently +compact, and the old man and the boy drove back and forth through +the herd for fully an hour. They were thrifty, western Texas +steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the trail at Camp +Supply, and were all that could be desired in range cattle. The two +agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out from among +the cattle, the foreman was signaled up.</p> +<p>"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said +Mr. Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to +pick up another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very +near selling me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the +threes and remnant of twos, and if you price the horses right, we +might leave you afoot. If you see Dudley before I do, tell him I +looked over his cattle again."</p> +<p>"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the +vehicle.</p> +<p>Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of +wicked Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its +iniquity catering largely to the rabble.</p> +<p>"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you +look after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is +almost sure to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we +looked over his cattle again. I want him to hound me into buying +that herd."</p> +<p>Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to +all that was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in +the extreme. The two strolled about the streets during the evening +hours, and on returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard +was awaiting the old drover. There was no prelude to the matter at +issue, and after arranging with other sellers to receive the +following day, Mr. Lovell led the way to his room.</p> +<p>"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, +presenting Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the +Beaver this summer. I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and +gave him a good scolding for not stocking his range somewhere near +its carrying capacity. He's the buyer I had in view for your +three-year-olds. You offered me the herd, on time, and at +satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the twos, and Wells +Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you afoot. Say so, +and your herd is sold."</p> +<p>"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen +to know the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend +them a credit. This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with +boys."</p> +<p>"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily +replied Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making +the fight that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early +struggles, had some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it +might have been different with us to-day. And now when I don't need +no help--Dud, it don't cost much to help others. These boys have +proven themselves white, to yours and to my men and to yours and to +my cattle. Is there nothing we can do?"</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer +to you. Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and +remnants. You know the brothers--you know their resources."</p> +<p>"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot.</p> +<p>"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?"</p> +<p>"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. +Their only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last +winter, the most severe one in the history of the West, they lost +two per cent of their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good +a showing on any of our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to +throw on this boy's shoulders the <i>responsibility</i> of +<i>paying</i> for <i>any cattle he buys</i>. At his age it would be +wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you and I stand +behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right effort to +protect his credit."</p> +<p>"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll +suggest the means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet +of paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from +seller to buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will +be a vendor's lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its +second will be the appointment of a commission house, who will act +as agent, hold this contract, and receive the beeves when ready for +shipment to market. Its third clause will be your right, as +creditor in a sale of chattel, to place a man of your own selection +on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their pay and subject to their +orders. As your representative, the privilege is granted of making +a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the condition of the +cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet this, their +covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887.</p> +<p>"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. +Lovell, throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to +learn the value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, +it's an asset. I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I +want him to meet his first obligation on or before the day of +maturity. I can speak for the boy's willingness to make such a +contract. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard.</p> +<p>"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a +seven days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your +outfit home from Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all +your trouble. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a square +deal."</p> +<p>The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and +threw his arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The +cattle's yours! That old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all +around the big corral and spur him in the flank at every jump, +unless he comes to those terms. An iron-clad bill of sale is its +own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I want to give the long +yell."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel +arose to meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and +action.</p> +<p>"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose +twinkling eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to +draw up that bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for +themselves next fall. Get to bed, you rascals!"</p> +<p>"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river +and gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the +doorway.</p> +<p>"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the +morning. We'll close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred +of those Womack twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an +eye over Joel's cattle until the Beaver's reached."</p> +<p>During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in +contact with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the +migrations of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and +Ogalalla are unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, +reaching a climax on American soil, and not of record in any other +country or time. Joel let little escape him. Here men bought and +sold by the thousand head, in his day and generation, and he was a +part of that epoch.</p> +<p>The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest +were purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in +receiving a herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted +by two competent foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and +wherefore, was pointed out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, +so that the lesson sunk into Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the +first herd received was in the uniform average of each animal, when +ages, class, and build governed selection.</p> +<p>Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's +rest arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next +morning. When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness +with which the two outfits classified the cattle was only short of +marvelous. The threes were cut out, and each age counted. The +over-plus of the younger cattle were cut back, and the contingents +were tendered on delivery. The papers were ready, executed on the +ground, and the herds started, the smaller in the lead.</p> +<p>The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most +of his time with the little herd, which used only eight men, +counting Joel, who stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd +numbered a few over fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six +horses, a team and wagon, the total contract price of which was a +trifle under twenty-five thousand dollars. It looked like a serious +obligation for two boys to assume, but practical men had sanctioned +it, and it remained for the ability of Wells Brothers to meet +it.</p> +<p>On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the +new trail, which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, +a remark was dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack +Sargent. It resulted in the two riding out on the trail, only to +meet the purchased cattle, Joel on one point and Forrest on the +other, directing the herds to the tanks below. The action bespoke +its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the latter jerked his thumb +over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and pilot the wagon and +remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of cattle into the +new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. Lovell's +cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. See +how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over +that. Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit +to the railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers +are shaking out a right smart bit of sail these days."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>"THE WAGON"</h3> + +<p>The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the +appointed time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial +obligation, it would establish their standing, and to that end +every energy must be directed. They were extremely fortunate in the +advice and help of two young men bred to the occupation, and whose +every interest lay in making a success of the ranch.</p> +<p>The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything +was abandoned but their saddles--<i>burning the wagon</i>--while +Joe Manly, one of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even +the foreman, and on taking his departure the trail boss, in the +presence of all, said to his man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to +this ranch and make a useful hand. Drop old man Dudley a line +whenever you have a chance. It's quite a little ride to the +station, and we'll understand that no news is good news. And once +you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, better raise +the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the fall--during +the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next summer's plans +begin to unfold."</p> +<p>Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of +the South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had +watered during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving +its foreman on the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, +paving the way in detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle +during the coming winter. With numbers exceeding three thousand, +close herd and corralling at night was impossible, and the riding +of lines, with an extra camp, admitting of the widest freedom, was +decided on as the most feasible method. The new camp must be +located well above Hackberry Grove, and to provision it for man and +horse was one of the many details outlined in meeting the coming +winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having held cattle by +one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting some +other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was +simple and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault +from drifting cattle.</p> +<p>Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next +morning, he turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may +be the last time I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is +talk of the trail moving west. On account of fever, this State +threatens to quarantine against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail +will have to move over into Colorado or hunt a new route through +unorganized counties on the western line of Kansas. In event of +quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger range for Wells +Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in cattle, just +getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big future for +you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, toddling +around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't +matter if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank +account, be living on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as +you stick to cows, through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse +you."</p> +<p>The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and +Manly busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and +Sargent accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that +evening, and it proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for +that summer.</p> +<p>The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was +narrowed to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle +watering at the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, +including all horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty +head, was moved up to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The +wintered horses furnished ample saddle mounts for the present, +there being little to do, as the water held the new cattle and no +herding was required. The heat of summer was over, the water held +in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch settled down in pastoral +security.</p> +<p>Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of +forage must be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to +the man was the lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery +was available on the railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned +with a new mowing machine, and the matter of providing abundant +forage was easily met. Sufficient hay, from a few bends of the +creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the home ranch, and a +week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site of the new +line-camp equipped with winter forage.</p> +<p>While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced +on Wells Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to +any pastoral occupation, and hence <i>the wagon</i> becomes a +cowman's home and castle. From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, +welcomes the wayfarer, and exchanges the chronicle of the range. +The wagon, which had been acquired with the new herd and used on +the above occasion, was well equipped with canvas cover, water +barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The latter was +fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a kitchen. +When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus +becomes home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the +other. Saddle horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the +safety of a camp-fire and the protection of their masters, and +therefore a closer bond exists between the men of the open and +their mounts than under more refined surroundings.</p> +<p>Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down +the Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of +running water. It was followed by early frosts, lifting the +dead-line and ushering in Indian summer. With forage secure, +attention was turned to the cattle. The purchase of a mowing +machine had exhausted the funds derived from the sale of peltry, +and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide the munitions +for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly provisioned for a +week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the quartette +moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown +into a compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the +spiritless cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid +as fawns, shied from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in +comforting concern, the beeves waddled about from carrying their +own flesh, while the patriarchs of the herd bellowed in sullen +defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut out from the ---- Y +brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first shipment of +cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets.</p> +<p>Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the +railroad. Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the +remuda, the two others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn +in standing guard at night. Water was plentiful, cars were in +waiting, and on reaching the railroad, the cattle were corralled in +the shipping pens.</p> +<p>Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The +beeves were consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as +factor in marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently +passed from the possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells +Brothers. The two cars of cattle found a ready sale, the weights +revealing a surprise, attracting the attention of packers and +salesmen to the quality of beef from the Beaver valley.</p> +<p>"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a +salesman to a packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the +weighing scale. "You and I needn't worry about the question of +range--the buffalo knew. Catch the weights of these cattle and +compare it with range beef from the sedge-grass and mountain +country. Tallow tells its own story--the buffalo knew the best +range."</p> +<p>An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a +mutual basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, +detained Joel and Manly in his private office for an hour.</p> +<p>"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to +ship," said the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The +Solomon River country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is +the first shipment from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your +consignment the fattest range beeves on to-day's market. And these +weights confirm the statement. I don't understand it. What kind of +a country have you out there?"</p> +<p>Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered +the latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by +the thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and +rolls away."</p> +<p>It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. +"The grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native +grasses?"</p> +<p>"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of +course, here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a +little blue-stem, enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. +The cattle won't touch it."</p> +<p>The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, +of which the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The +details were gone over carefully, the outlook for next year's +shipments reviewed, and on taking their leave, the old man said to +his guests:--</p> +<p>"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters +from both Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over +the situation, with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and +satisfactory. Next year's shipments will take care of the contract. +Keep in touch with us, and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship +your cattle in finished condition, and they'll make a market for +themselves. We'll expect you early next summer."</p> +<p>"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your +single-wintered beeves," said the old man, from his practical +knowledge in maturing beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has +your account all ready."</p> +<p>Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a +moment. The beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and +except for current expenses, the funds were left on deposit with +the commission house, as there were no banks near home; the account +was subject to draft, and accepting a small advance in currency, +the boys departed. A brief hour's shopping was indulged in, the +principal purchases being two long-range rifles, cartridges and +poison in abundance, when they hastened to the depot and caught a +west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, and at evening +the next day the two rode into headquarters on the Beaver.</p> +<p>Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the +first shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an +air of independence indicated the turn in the swing of the +pendulum. Practical men, in every avenue of the occupation, had +lent their indorsement to the venture of the brothers, the mettle +of the pasture had been tested in the markets, and the future, with +reasonable vigilance, rested on sure foundations.</p> +<p>The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think +Uncle Dud would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at +supper. "There's no occasion for my staying here this winter. +Besides, I'm a tender plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of +thunder. Wouldn't I like to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, +'Come home, my little white chicken, come home!'"</p> +<p>"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!"</p> +<p>"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now +listen to the foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every +hoof up to date. Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building +of a new dug-out and stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight +in plenty of corn. After that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's +our own fault. No excuse will pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's +a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, make yourself a useful guest +for the winter."</p> +<p>A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their +mothers were brought down to the home corral and branded in a +single day. The Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were +exempt, the Lazy H ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. +Only cripple, fagged, and stray cattle were branded, the latter +numbering less than a hundred head, and were run into the Hospital +brand, while the remainder bore the--Y of the ranch. The work was +completed within a week, Dell making a hand which proved his nerve, +either in the saddle or branding pen.</p> +<p>The first week in October was devoted to building the new +dug-out and stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and +tool on the ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as +well as the remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as +if it were a frolic. The site had been decided on during the +haying, and on reaching the scene, the tent was set up, and the +building of a shelter for man and horse was begun.</p> +<p>The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and +the remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt +break or low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot +cellar walls on three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod +walls and containing the door. The sod was broken by a team and +plough, cut into lengths like brick, and the outside walls raised +to the desired height. For roofing, a heavy ridge-pole was cut the +length of the room, resting on stout upright posts. Lighter poles +were split and laid compactly, like rafters, sheeted with hay, and +covered with loose dirt to the depth of a foot. The floor was +earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented by a door in the +south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable shelter. A roomy +stable was built on the same principle and from the same +material.</p> +<p>The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, +when the quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway +house at Land's End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the +new improvements. "What are you going to call the new tepee?"</p> +<p>"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell +having accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and +let the latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you +must bring your knitting and come over."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>AN OPEN WINTER</h3> + +<p>An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late +fall frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light +rains in September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on +the sunny slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus +assuring abundant forage to the cattle.</p> +<p>Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any +cold, while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the +plains. After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, +the quartette paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new +dug-out, while the other two were perfectly content with the old +shack at headquarters. A healthy spirit of rivalry sprang up, +extending from a division of the horses down to a fair assignment +of the blankets.</p> +<p>Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter +aroused a dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said +Sargent, "up on the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail +outfit were detailed until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the +cattle, and of course the cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught +us in camp, and that poor darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to +say to the foreman, shivering over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. +Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful +uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no place fo' a po' ol' +niggah.'"</p> +<p>Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round +trips being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies +for the winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of +which were four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of +corned beef fell a pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was +nothing new in pickling the meat, and with the exception of felling +the beeves, the incident passed as part of the day's work. Dell +claimed the privilege of making the shots, which Sargent granted, +but exercised sufficient caution to corral the beeves. Both fell in +their tracks, and the novice gained confidence in his skill in the +use of a rifle.</p> +<p>The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of +lines. That date found all the new cattle drifted above +headquarters, and as it was some ten miles to the upper line-camp, +an extremely liberal range was allowed the herd. Eight of the best +wintered horses were stabled, and at first the line was maintained +on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer line was agreed upon, +five miles to the south; but until the season forced the cattle to +the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept under patrol. The +outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an immense +half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the +winter range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, +drifting before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back +or trailed down.</p> +<p>The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. +Many of the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, +not even coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several +times the horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an +advantage, the cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft +snow even failed to bring the cattle into the valley.</p> +<p>Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. +The through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter +fat and furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and +instinctively leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the +first storm. Between the morning and evening patrol of a perfect +day, the herd, of its own accord, drifted into the valley, the +leaders rioting in a wild frolic. Their appearance hastened the +patrol of the inner line by an hour, every nook and shelter, +including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome cattle. The +calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the older +cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their foreheads +in clay and soft dirt.</p> +<p>"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met.</p> +<p>"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came +the reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, +the herd say so."</p> +<p>"What can we do?"</p> +<p>"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless +driven out by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming +storm also teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the +blue-stem to-night, or hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank."</p> +<p>A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was +agreed upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out +early, and keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the +line," Sargent called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will +leave The Wagon at daybreak."</p> +<p>The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an +angry horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from +the north. On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm +on an angle, edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting +defiance and warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. +The light advanced slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, +obscuring the valley, and not until the slope to the south was +reached was the situation known.</p> +<p>No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving +the line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering +trace where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both +he and Dell dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach +and departure, the range-bred man was able to give a perfect +summary of the situation.</p> +<p>"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," +remarked Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; +the storm must have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. +They struck the creek in the flats and were driven out of the +valley. The trail's not over two hours old. Ride the line until you +meet the other boys, and I'll trail down these cattle. The sand +dunes ought to catch them."</p> +<p>Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was +met. Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a +contingent of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting +the stragglers back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers +turned to the assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, +and finally bearing off for the sand hills. Several times the sun +threatened to break through, lighting the valley, but without +revealing any stir among the cattle in the shelter of the creek. In +the short time since leaving their stables, the horses under saddle +had whitened from the action of the frost on their sweaty coats, +unheeded by their riders. There was no checking of mounts until the +range of dunes was reached, when from the summit of a sand hill the +stragglers were located in care of Sargent, and on the homeward +drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered from the cold +that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, and were +overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain.</p> +<p>The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of +the brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the +sun burst forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in +parting. "A few hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got +the upper hand of this storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the +wind lulls, we'll ride the inner line to-night and bed every hoof +in the shelter of the creek. Pick up Manly, and we'll ride the +valley line about the middle of the afternoon."</p> +<p>Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under +patrol from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to +Dell, leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and +before noon all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty +miles had been covered that morning, in riding the line and +recovering the lost, and at the agreed time, the relay horses were +under saddle for the afternoon task. The sun had held sway, the +wind had fallen, and as they followed up the valley, they +encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to every quarter +of the compass. They were not molested on the outward ride, but on +the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to the +sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. +A crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found +the cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first +bottoms of the creek.</p> +<p>The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own +accord, the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern +divide. The line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for +observing the Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to +secure a venison. The absence of snow, during the storm, had held +the antelope tributary to the Beaver, and locating game was an easy +matter. To provide the roast, the spirit of rivalry was accented +anew, and each camp fervently hoped for its own success.</p> +<p>A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a +running shot at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a +morning siesta near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only +be found in the sand hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent +had flattered Dell into believing that his aim was equal to the +occasion. The broken nature of the dune country admitted of +stealthy approach, and its nearness to the upper camp recommended +it as an inviting hunting ground. The disappointment of the first +effort, due to moderated weather, was in finding the quarry far +afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the protection of the sand +hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without shelter to screen +a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and selecting a +quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins lengthened +by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking +right and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a +stealthy approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed +ravenously, sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect +screen for stalking.</p> +<p>After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was +reached, when the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass +and allowed the horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent +indicated a sentinel buck, presenting the best shot; and using his +elbow for a rest, the rifle was laid in the hollow of Dell's +upraised hand and drawn firmly to his shoulder, and a prompt report +followed. The shot went wild, throwing up a flash of dust before +the band, which instantly whirled. The horses merely threw up their +heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, which ran up +within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the excitement of the +moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had arisen to his +knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another cartridge into +the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as the band +excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger in +vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a +few feet of the muzzle of the rifle!</p> +<p>The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, +laughing until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's +chagrin left him standing like a simpleton.</p> +<p>"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too +easy on the trigger."</p> +<p>"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered +Sargent, not daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next +spring, those scars in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither +horse was killed. Honest, I'll never breathe it! Not for +worlds!"</p> +<p>Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his +horse, mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching +their saddles, the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a +pleasant dream, the boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck +ague?" he earnestly inquired.</p> +<p>"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his +horse. "Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or +discharges one into the ground at his feet, he ought to take +something for his nerves. It's not fatal, and I have hopes of your +recovery."</p> +<p>The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a +peal of laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed +to appreciate the humor of the situation.</p> +<p>"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, +"if we have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I +can grace it with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of +venison, it will fit the occasion just as well."</p> +<p>The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual +amount of banter and repartee was exchanged.</p> +<p>"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked +Sargent scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much +confidence in your skill as hunters."</p> +<p>"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly.</p> +<p>"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We +located a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, +I'll go out in the morning and bring in a fat yearling."</p> +<p>"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly +with refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow +and come down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're +going to have quite a spread."</p> +<p>Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with +polished contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived +on beans at The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware +wasn't as good as their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come +on!"</p> +<p>Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before +noon, a young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations +were made for an extensive dinner. The practical range man is +usually a competent cook, and from the stores of the winter camp a +number of extra dishes were planned. In the way of a roast, on the +plains, a saddle of venison was the possible extreme, and the +occupants of the line-camp possessed a ruddy health which promised +appetites to grace the occasion.</p> +<p>Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed +the dead weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the +creek from pool to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with +droning bees and flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning +patrol alone, meeting Joel at the halfway point, when the two +dismounted, whiling away several hours in considering future plans +of the ranch.</p> +<p>It was high noon when the two returned to their respective +quarters. Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the +venison, and on his crony's return, the two sat down to their +Christmas dinner. What the repast lacked in linen and garnishment, +it made up in stability, graced by a cheerfulness and contentment +which made its partakers at peace with the world. Sargent was +almost as resourceful in travel and story as Quince Forrest, and +never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace any occasion.</p> +<p>Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, +was enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to +Sargent, "you promised to tell a story at dinner to-day."</p> +<p>"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into +the ground at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if +I have to laugh; you looked like a simpleton."</p> +<p>"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell.</p> +<p>"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, +but in a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to +be your father, but he looked just as witless as you did."</p> +<p>"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy.</p> +<p>"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in +certain sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a +week's shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, +known as one of the most fearless officers in the state. In size he +simply towered above the rest of us.</p> +<p>"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking +and coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting +grounds, and the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg +and every jug on the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and +were carried in the wagon.</p> +<p>"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a +quail pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the +afternoon, he killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very +plentiful, and instead of picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such +a number was much quicker. In the hurry and bustle of making the +camp snug for the night, every one was busy, the sheriff in +particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On finishing the task, he +asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse wrangler reached +into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into the vessel +containing the dressed birds.</p> +<p>"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and +drain his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: +'Ignacio, I smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if +the lantern isn't leaking.'</p> +<p>"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere.</p> +<p>"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway +through the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. +See if the lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.'</p> +<p>"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in +the flour.'</p> +<p>"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: +'Ignacio, I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a +lantern without oil puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. +Drop your work and see what the trouble is. There's a leak +somewhere.'</p> +<p>"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the +wagon wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, +shook it, and lifted it above his head in search of a possible +crack. The empty jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually +sifted through his mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big +sheriff, just then finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the +saints to witness, he gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail +in the kerosene!'</p> +<p>"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's +face is only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. +"I've been fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a +Texas sheriff, and again, when you shot a hole in the ground with +your eye on an antelope. Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I +conjure up the scene of a Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, +holding a jug, and a six-footer in the background, smelling the +fingers of one hand and then the other."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>AN INDIAN SCARE</h3> + +<p>The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered +wide, ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. +The latter was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson +to the brothers, and readily explained by the older and more +practical men. For instance, a north or the dreaded east wind +brought the herd into the valley, where it remained until the +weather moderated, and then drifted out of its own free will. When +a balmy south wind blew, the cattle grazed against it, and when it +came from a western quarter, they turned their backs and the +gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under settled weather, +even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it was an easy +matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the coming day.</p> +<p>The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, +but more as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The +occasional reports of Manly to his employer were flattering in the +extreme. Any risk involved in the existing contract hinged on the +present winter, and since it was all that could be desired, every +fine day added to the advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their +venture had been greeted with fair winds, and with not a cloud in +the visible sky. Manly was even recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in +February.</p> +<p>Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a +fortnight earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the +willows were bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening +slopes rolled away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp +was abandoned, the cattle were scattered over the entire valley, +and the instincts to garden were given free rein. The building of +two additional tanks, one below the old trail crossing and the +other near the new camp above, occupied a month's time to good +advantage. It enlarged the range beyond present needs; but the +brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, and theirs was +strictly a policy of expansion.</p> +<p>An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing +errand, was usually rewarded with important news. During the winter +just passed, Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the +trail was barred from that state. Early in May information reached +the ranch that the market interests of Dodge City had moved over +the line into Colorado, and had established a town on the railroad, +to be known as Trail City. A feasible route lay open to the south, +across No-Man's-Land, into the Texas Panhandle, while scouting +parties were out with the intent of locating a new trail to +Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River nearly due westward +from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one hundred miles +distant.</p> +<p>"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You +must have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river +and a railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the +east to the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you +can buy cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until +frost, and cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may +prove an advantage after all."</p> +<p>The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The +beaver ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill +race, and the question of water for the summer was answered. The +cattle early showed the benefits of the favorable winter, and by +June the brands were readable at a glance. From time to time +reports from the outside world reached the brothers, and among +other friendly letters received was an occasional inquiry from the +commission firm, the factors named under the existing contract. The +house kept in touch with the range, was fully aware of the open +winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in maturing cattle +for early shipment.</p> +<p>The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent +out a month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised +of a promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the +commission house, and during the first week in July he arrived at +headquarters. He was a practical man, with little concern for +comfort, as long as there were cattle to look over. Joel took him +in tow, mounted him on the pick of saddle horses, and the two +leisurely rode the range.</p> +<p>"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride.</p> +<p>"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. +Put in all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that +range wide, for we rode around every outside bunch. He <i>can</i> +talk, because he admitted we have good horses."</p> +<p>Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At +parting the following morning, in summing up the outlook, the +solicitor surprised the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he +quietly. "You must ship early. Your double-wintered beeves will +reach their prime this month. You may ship them any day after the +25th. Your single-wintered ones can follow in three weeks. The firm +may be able to advise you when to ship. It's only a fourteen-hour +run to the yards, and if you work a beef-shipping outfit that's up +to date, you can pick your day to reach the market. Get your outfit +together, keep in touch with the house by wire, and market your +beef in advance of the glut from the Platte country."</p> +<p>The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," +said Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us +two men during the beef-shipping season."</p> +<p>"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in +hand.</p> +<p>"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?"</p> +<p>"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. +There may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, +fully anticipating the query.</p> +<p>"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand.</p> +<p>The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled +glance, but Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," +said the latter. "The chances are that he's forgotten more about +cattle than some of these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he +reads the sign without much effort. His survey of this range and +the outlook are worth listening to. Better look up an outfit of +men."</p> +<p>"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm +gone to the Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the +horses."</p> +<p>The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located +on the range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters +at once. They had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, +and a single day would be required to gather and corral the ranch +remuda. It numbered, complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and +the wisdom of buying the majority a year in advance of their needs +reflected the foresight of a veteran cowman. Many of them were +wild, impossible of approach, the call of the plain and the free +life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with every heart-beat, and +several days would be required to bring them under docile +subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep.</p> +<p>The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied +forth, mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among +the clouds. During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed +in the sand hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle +horses was watering. The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the +range, fully fifteen miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle +stock must be brought in, the day's work required riding a wide +circle. Skirting the sand dunes, by early noon all the horses were +in hand, save the band of thirty. There was no occasion for all +hands to assist in bringing in the absent ones, and a consultation +resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the task, while Sargent +returned home with the horses already gathered.</p> +<p>The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours +after parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The +brothers knew every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid +condition, they started homeward, driving the loose mounts before +them. The most direct course to headquarters was taken, which would +carry the cavalcade past the springs and the upper winter quarters. +The latter was situated in the brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt +turns of the creek, until its near approach, shutting out a western +view of the deserted dug-out. The cavalcade was drifting home at a +gentle trot, but on approaching The Wagon, a band of ponies was +sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. The boys veered their +horses, taking to the western divide, and on gaining it, saw below +them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, around the +springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos.</p> +<p>Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their +surprise, all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the +Indians came tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them +running for their ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked +leader signaled to the brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment +with the boys, who conversed in whispers, never halting on their +course, and when the Indians reached their ponies, every brave +dashed up to the encampment. A short parley followed, during which +signaling was maintained by the old Indian, evidently a chief; but +the boys kept edging away, and the old brave sprang on a pony and +started in pursuit, followed by a number of his band.</p> +<p>The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their +mounts, shook out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started +the loose horses in a mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to +headquarters, and their mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy +saddles and the day's work, were none too fresh, while the Indians +rode bareback and were not encumbered by an ounce of extra +clothing.</p> +<p>The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead +of taking to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued +and pursuers in plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so +the loose horses were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping +clear of the whizzing ropes. But after the first wild dash, the +remuda began to scatter, and the Indians gained on the cavalcade, +coming fairly abreast and not over four hundred yards distant.</p> +<p>"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off +from headquarters!"</p> +<p>"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. +"Don't let these loose horses turn into the valley."</p> +<p>The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The +meanderings of the latter were crossed and recrossed without +halting, while the watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by +dry washes and coulees, thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. +The race wore on with varying advantage, and when near halfway to +headquarters, the Indians turned up the slope as if to verify +Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a half-dozen of the loose horses +cut off from the band and turned down the slope in plain sight of +the pursuers.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0310-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0310-1.jpg" width="700" height="465" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY</p> +</div> + +<p>"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. +"Climbing that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where +we have the best of it."</p> +<p>The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept +past the abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level +stretch on the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the +pursuers, baffled in cutting them off, turned again into the +valley.</p> +<p>"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward +glance.</p> +<p>"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, +and ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice +of horses would not appease their pursuers.</p> +<p>The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the +brothers dipped from sight of the Indians. The act confused the +latter, who scaled the divide, only to find the objects of their +chase a full half-mile in the lead, but calling on the last reserve +in their fagged horses. The pursuers gradually closed the +intervening gap; but with the advantage of knowing every foot of +the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried them into the +valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a straight +stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the boys +dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses.</p> +<p>"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. +"Indians have been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, +Jack!"</p> +<p>Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as +Sargent left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, +and showed splendid action in reaching the dug-out.</p> +<p>Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating +rifle, while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to +unearth the story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre +revealed the Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and +parleying among themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to +be unarmed, and on Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, +the old brave, simply held up his hand.</p> +<p>"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and +signaled in the leader.</p> +<p>The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his +followers behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his +wrinkled visage. He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty +breech-clout a greasy, grimy letter, and tendered it to +Sargent.</p> +<p>The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter.</p> +<p>"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine +Ridge Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian +Territory. The agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a +peaceful Indian, and has his permission to leave the reservation. +He hopes that nothing but kindness will be shown the old chief in +his travels, and bespeaks the confidence of any white settlers that +he may meet on the way. You boys must have been scared out of your +wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show you this letter."</p> +<p>Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook +hands with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone +Wolf, and on returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor +was burdened with pickled beef and such other staples as the +cow-camp afforded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>HARVEST ON THE RANGE</h3> + +<p>Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone +four days. The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, +but constant inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose +holdings consisted of stock cattle. Three men were secured, their +services not being urgently required on the home ranch until the +fall branding, leaving only a cook and horse wrangler to be +secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a homesteader and his boy, +anxious for work, and the two were engaged.</p> +<p>"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. +"It gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first +shipment with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little +green at first, but they're willing, and that masters any task. +We'll have to be patient with them--we were all beginners once. Any +man who ever wrestled with a homestead ought to be able to +cook."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man +like settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. +In the West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability +to use baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide."</p> +<p>The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. +Within a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with +unerring nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to +another. The double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their +former range; but in order to quicken the work, any beeves of that +class found below were drifted above headquarters. It was a +distinct advantage to leave the herd undisturbed, and with the +first shipment drifted to one end of the range, a small round-up or +two would catch all marketable beeves.</p> +<p>The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and +wrangler were initiated into their respective duties at once. The +wagon was equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and +an ample mount allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted +over the saddle stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task +daunted their numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as +the work was fully understood, the concerted efforts of all +relieved him of any concern, except in arranging the details. The +ranch had fallen heir to a complete camp kit, with the new wagon, +and with a single day's preparations, the shipping outfit stood +ready to move on an hour's notice.</p> +<p>It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that +Wells Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. +Sargent had figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to +execute a shipment, and was rather impatient to try out the outfit +in actual field work.</p> +<p>"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a +little swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct +the cook and wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real +thing."</p> +<p>Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning +to gather beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp."</p> +<p>"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced +Sargent. "Roll your blankets in the morning, boys."</p> +<p>A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys +were impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your +double-wintered beeves on Saturday's market."</p> +<p>"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The +wagon and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the +messenger order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be +on Saturday's market."</p> +<p>Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier +returning to the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown +out from the old winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle +rendered them lazy, half the horsemen halted until the other +sighted the grove above. As early as advisable, the gradual circle +was begun, turning the cattle into the valley, concentrating, and +by slowly edging in, the first round-up of the day was thrown +together, numbering, range run, fully six hundred head. Two men +were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell volunteered to +watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other three to cut +out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. A short +hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and +when cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was +reflected in every beef.</p> +<p>The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed +nearly double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of +the beeves was made, which overran in numbers the necessary +shipment. They were extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car +was the limit, and it became necessary to trim or cull back to the +desired number. Sargent and Joel passed on every rejected beef, +uniform weight being desirable, until the shipment stood +acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish.</p> +<p>The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without +delay. Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, +and a grazing pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good +season. The day's work consisted in merely pointing and drifting +the cattle forward, requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help +to initiate the cook and wrangler in their field duties. Joel had +been a close observer of the apparent ease with which a cook +discharged his duty, frequently halting his wagon on a moment's +notice, and easily preparing a meal for an outfit of trail men +within an hour. The main secret lay in the foresight, in keeping +his work in advance, and Joel lent every assistance in coaching his +cook to meet the emergency of any demand.</p> +<p>Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of +horses had seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and +attention was called to observing each individual horse and the +remuda as a whole. For instance, in summer, a horse grazes against +the breeze, and if the remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, +the wind holding from the same quarter during the night, a +practical wrangler would know where to find his horses at dawn. The +quarter of the breeze was therefore always noted, any variation +after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the wind, turning the +course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were leaders +among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy +had no fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his +leave-taking was gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling +alone in the open.</p> +<p>"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to +the father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer +ends, he'll know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's +nothing like knowing your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; +know their spirit, know them in health, lame and wounded. If a +horse neighs at night, know why; if one's missing in the morning, +name him like you would an absent boy at school."</p> +<p>The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. +The beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep +in night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three +guards stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd +off its bed at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through +the noon hours.</p> +<p>An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening +before loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into +the station in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get +the shipping details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, +having been ordered on from Trail City.</p> +<p>"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for +a special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a +local freight from here, but I showed him there were other train +shipments to follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another +one to my old man done the work. Those old boys know how to pull +the strings. A special train has been ordered, and you can name +your own hour for leaving in the morning. I have a man with me; +send us in horses and we'll help you corral your beeves."</p> +<p>Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two +horses were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra +men joined the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. +An early hour was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in +promptly, and the first shipment of the year was cut into car lots +and loaded out during a morning hour.</p> +<p>Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was +noticeable around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting +for a passenger schedule, there was billing to be done and +contracts to execute, telegrams of notification to be sent the +commission firm, and general instructions to the beef outfit. Joel +and Sargent were to accompany the shipment, and on starting, while +the engineer and conductor were comparing their running orders, +Sargent called out from the rear of the caboose:--</p> +<p>"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. +"Here's two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take +some candy home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you +can have my little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you +can have all my other playthings."</p> +<p>The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned +homeward. Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and +the remainder of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. +Manly had been away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and +Dell rode the range, pending the return of the absent. Under ideal +range conditions, the cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, +having rounded into form beyond belief.</p> +<p>"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the +range; "they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with +a hardiness that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they +repay every debt. Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will +almost wipe the slate. Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, +but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent on making it that my old man simply +gave in. And now you're going to make a fortune out of these Lazy +H's. No wonder us fool Texans love a cow."</p> +<p>The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only +topped the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but +topped it in price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two +dollars a head!"</p> +<p>Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said +Joel, "the commission firm will order the trains and send us a +practical shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to +rush our shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays +to be on time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these +railroad passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. +If any one has to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and +leave the cattle to follow."</p> +<p>The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome +asset. The first consignment from the ranch gave the men a +field-trial, and now that the actual shipping season was at hand, +an allotment of horses was made. The numbers of the remuda admitted +of mounting every man to the limit, and with their first shipment a +success, the men rested impatiently awaiting orders.</p> +<p>The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' +later date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for +fulfillment. The outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the +evening before, and by noon two round-ups had yielded twenty +car-loads of straight Lazy H beeves. When trimmed to their required +numbers, twenty-two to the car, they reflected credit to breeder +and present owner.</p> +<p>In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was +no apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at +evening and morning, brought the herd within summons of the +shipping yards on time. That the beeves might be favored, they were +held outside for the night, three miles from the corral, but an +early sun found them safely inside the shipping pens. Two hours +later, the full train was en route to market, in care of a +practical shipper.</p> +<p>On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to +the commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour +after the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the +shipment, was received from Mr. Stoddard.</p> +<p>"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the +last cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two +herds on the market this year, one at Trail City and the other at +Ogalalla, and he may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You +have a pass; you can catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake +the cattle train in time to see the beeves unloaded."</p> +<p>"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling +through his pockets for the forgotten pass.</p> +<p>"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, +single ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. +Same range, same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly +safe in buying them unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought +last year, with the advantage of a better season on the trail. All +you need to do is to agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are +as honest as gold and twice as good."</p> +<p>"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with +decision. "If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train +from the Lazy H's. I'll be back in a day or two."</p> +<p>Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. +At dusk he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market +yards on schedule time. The shipper's duty ceased with the +unloading of the cattle, which was easily completed before +midnight, when he and his employer separated. The market would not +open until a late morning hour, affording ample time to rest and +refresh the beeves, and to look up acquaintances in the office.</p> +<p>Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first +stir of the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even +arrived, he was hanging around the office of the commission firm. +The expected shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm +much earlier than usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. +Mr. Stoddard was summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the +hearty greeting between the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual +occupation.</p> +<p>The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an +interested party left the commission office and sauntered forth to +watch the beeves cross the scale. It was the parting look of +breeder, owner, and factor, and when the average weight was +announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to the others.</p> +<p>"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you +last summer?"</p> +<p>"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the +boys who matured them. I must be an old fogy."</p> +<p>"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission +house. "Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To +be sure, as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man +can raise a frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers +aren't afraid of a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the +lion's share falls to them."</p> +<p>"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially +quoted the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly +to your northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse +your Uncle Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree."</p> +<p>"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old +factor.</p> +<p>"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story +that is told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. +He's my customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day."</p> +<p>The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each +beef was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the +letter of the bond, and each party to the contract respected his +obligation.</p> +<p>After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard +and Joel wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to +find all accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. +The second shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, +and when the canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned +to the senior member of the firm.</p> +<p>"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same +price and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This +quarantine raises havoc with delivery."</p> +<p>"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked +the senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist +on a rigid enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle +cattle, and any north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of +health. If that's all that stands in the way of a trade, our firm +will use its good offices."</p> +<p>"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take +your herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on +the Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. +This firm is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," +he concluded, turning to the member present.</p> +<p>"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any +confidence reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the +quarantine authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he +requested, turning to a map and indicating the shipping +station.</p> +<p>Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. +The Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the +north, with unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado.</p> +<p>"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the +only cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the +bill of health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry +in your other shipments, and the railroad can use its +influence--it'll want cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be +restocked."</p> +<p>There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was +sent to Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the +beef outfit, to hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home +that night, and the next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from +the Beaver, with a perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It +was early harvest on the cattle ranges, and those who were favored +with marketable beef were eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall +shipments.</p> +<p>The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report +provoked argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men +lounged around the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit.</p> +<p>"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the +lads from the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle +without seeing them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not +this one of old man Vivian's boys! Oh, no!"</p> +<p>"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. +"Your view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your +tickets cost somewhere between four and six bits."</p> +<p>Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, +gazed at the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how +your folks bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow +is a cow, a steer is a steer, according to his age, and so on down +to the end of the alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and +there's no occasion for seeing them. If you are laboring under the +idea that my old man would use any deception to sell a herd, you +have another guess coming. He'd rather lose his right hand than to +misrepresent the color of a cow. He's as jealous of his cattle as a +miller is of his flour. These boys are his customers, last fall, +this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he wanted them, +Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen."</p> +<p>The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on +schedule time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the +side track, and an engine and crew could be summoned on a few +hours' notice. If corralled the night before, passing trains were +liable to excite the beeves, and thereafter it became the usual +custom to hold outside and safely distant.</p> +<p>The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping +operations. Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at +sunrise on the morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started +homeward.</p> +<p>"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," +said Joel to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch +at headquarters. Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make +camp at the lower tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of +Lazy H's. The rest of the outfit will follow, once these cattle are +loaded out. You might have a late supper awaiting us--about ten +o'clock to-night."</p> +<p>The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut +into car lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the +loading began. A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the +dusty horsemen mounted and clattered into the straggling +hamlet.</p> +<p>The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the +first running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful +lunch. The horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again +took up their former road gait. An evening halt was made on the +Prairie Dog, where an hour's grazing was again allowed, the time +being wholly devoted to looking into the future.</p> +<p>"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining +his plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this +creek, in case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered +nook, cache a little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the +cattle break the line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning +and check them. It beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a +twenty-mile start. We could lash our blankets on a pack horse and +ride it night or day."</p> +<p>"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could +almost eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is +surely a meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef +shipping's on in full blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting +on the Beaver."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>LIVING IN THE SADDLE</h3> + +<p>The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning +horsemen safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for +the task of the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment +would come from the flotsam of the year before, many of which were +heavy beeves, intended for army delivery, but had fallen footsore +on the long, drouthy march. The past winter had favored the lame +and halt, and after five months of summer, the bulk of them had +matured into finished beef.</p> +<p>By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers +were enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were +kept, but had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have +rendered a statement from memory of returns on the double and +single wintered, as well as on the purchased cattle. Sale +statements were furnished by the commission house, and by filing +these, an account of the year's shipments, each brand separate, +could be made up at the end of the season.</p> +<p>The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, +was now happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as +their portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose +the class of cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The +range had proven itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter +would carry only sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings +of cattle.</p> +<p>"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at +breakfast, "I'd stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter +every hoof. Look over those sale statements and you'll see what two +winters mean. That first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, +and yet they netted seven dollars a head less than those rag-tag, +double-wintered ones. There's a waste that must be saved +hereafter."</p> +<p>"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof +that has the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three +two-year-old steers to take his place. It may take another year or +two to shape up our cattle, but after that, every hoof must be +double-wintered."</p> +<p>An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the +first round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves +without any excitement was fully understood, and to gather a +shipment without disturbing those remaining was a task that +required patience and intelligence. Men on the outside circle +merely turned the cattle on the extremes of the range; they were +followed by inner horsemen, and the drag-net closed at a grazing +pace, until the round-up halted on a few acres.</p> +<p>The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last +course in the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a +mixed round-up. On the present work, those horses which had proven +apt were held in reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle +was quieting down, the remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to +four cutting horses. The average cow can dodge and turn quicker +than the ordinary horse, and only a few of the latter ever combine +action and intelligence to outwit the former. Cunning and +ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a perfect rein, +coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of range +mounts--the cutting horse.</p> +<p>Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent +took him in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered +the herd. "Now, I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you +cut them out. All you need to do is to rein that horse down on your +beef, and he'll take him out of the herd. Of course you'll help the +horse some little; but if you let too many back, I'll call our +wrangler and try him out. That horse knows the work just as well as +you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over your beef."</p> +<p>The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, +and only a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. +Dell made a record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an +hour, and only letting one reënter the herd. The latter was a +pony-built beef, and after sullenly leaving the herd, with the +agility of a cat, he whirled right and left on the space of a +blanket, and beat the horse back into the round-up. Sargent lent a +hand on the second trial, and when the beef saw that resistance was +useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away to join those +selected for shipment.</p> +<p>"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you +out. Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit +horse could turn him. And he showed you."</p> +<p>"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the +herd, quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef +reaches the edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop +out like door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as +rigid as ropes, and he touches the ground as if he was walking on +eggs. Look at him now; goes poking along as if he was half +asleep."</p> +<p>"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you +can strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your +steer, that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king +pin--that's royalty."</p> +<p>A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of +beeves. They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require +reclassing before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish +were fully up to standard, but the manner in which they were +acquired left them uneven, their ages varying from four to seven +years.</p> +<p>"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves +had been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. +Instead of five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this +year's shipment from crumbs will net you double that amount. The +first gathering of beef will square the account with every thirsty +cow you watered last summer."</p> +<p>An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The +shipment must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within +half a mile of the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and +Sargent. The contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and +in order to have them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be +cut into a class by themselves, leaving the remainder neat and +uniform. A careful hour's work resulted in seven car-loads of extra +heavy beeves, which were corralled separately and in advance of the +others, completing a long day in the saddle.</p> +<p>Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A +permit from the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due +to the influence of the commission house and others, admitting the +through herd, then en route from Ogalalla. The grant required a +messenger to meet the herd without delay, and Dell volunteered his +services as courier. Darkness fell before supper was over and the +messenger ready.</p> +<p>"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his +brother, "and those through cattle can come in the day we gather +our last train. We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't +reached the Republican, push ahead until you meet it."</p> +<p>A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the +herd to follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite +our middle tank?"</p> +<p>"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count +and receive them."</p> +<p>Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely +home to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon +to-morrow. If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll +drop down on you in a day and a half."</p> +<p>The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and +advice followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the +others threw themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning +found the outfit astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon +and remuda were started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping +instructions were merely a repetition of previous consignments, and +the train had barely left the station when the cavalcade rode to +overtake the commissary.</p> +<p>The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest +was allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the +cook and wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below +headquarters. We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the +creek. Our only round-up to-morrow will be well above the old +winter corral. It's our last gathering of beef, and we want to make +a general round-up of the range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so +that it'll be late when we reach camp."</p> +<p>The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted +the Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that +spring, was less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering +off there, the drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and +a general drift begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits +of the range, pointed the cattle into the valley, and by moving +forward and converging as the evening advanced, a general drift was +maintained. The pace was barely that of grazing, and as darkness +approached, all cattle on the lower end of the range were grazed +safely above the night camp and left adrift.</p> +<p>The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and +threes. There was little danger of the cattle returning to their +favorite range during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an +early hour in the morning the drag-net was again thrown out from +camp. Headquarters was passed before the horsemen began +encountering any quantity of cattle, and after passing the old +winter corral, the men on the points of the half-circle were sent +to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the middle of the +forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle naturally turned +into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete circles +brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner +was waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders +rang out. "Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh +horses," said Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and +cutting out will be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the +beeves, and that will turn the rest of us free to watch the +round-up and cut out."</p> +<p>By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to +cut out the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, +while Sargent and an assistant would confine their selections to +the single-wintered ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally +his own work, even car-loads were required, and a total would +constitute the shipment. The cutting out began quietly; but after a +nucleus of beeves were selected, their numbers gained at the rate +of three to five a minute, while the sweat began to reek from the +horses.</p> +<p>Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his +services to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was +relieved from guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of +Manly. A steady stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a +comparison of figures was made. Manly was limited to one hundred +and twenty head, completing an even thousand shipped from the +brand, and lacking four, was allowed to complete his number. +Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim the general +herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was all +that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference +resulted in cutting two loads extra.</p> +<p>"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said +Sargent, as he dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. +"Any aged steers left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their +way to hold another year. Turn the round-up adrift."</p> +<p>After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general +herd up the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in +corralling his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the +beeves were grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a +night at headquarters in some time, the wagon serving as a +substitute, and orders for evening freed all hands except two men +on herd with the beeves.</p> +<p>The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel +and Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting +the main herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and +relieved from further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, +were arranged for the night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up +the creek and freed near Hackberry Grove, and on returning to +overtake the beeves, the two horsemen crossed a spur of the +tableland, jutting into the valley, affording a perfect view of the +surrounding country.</p> +<p>With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to +a halt. Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the +plain, hung an ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a +glance.</p> +<p>Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the +Republican," said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from +Ogalalla. The pitch of their dust shows they're trailing +south."</p> +<p>The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running +train and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a +distance, pitches upward from a horizon line, and the moving +direction of train or herd is easily read by an observant +plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed on reaching +headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, the +latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the new +trail.</p> +<p>The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. +He protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, +even to looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said +he, "and it's up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering +around all summer with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, +I'll take orders from no one. We made rather a forced drive from +the Republican, and I want a good night's rest for both the herd +and myself. Ten o'clock in the morning will be early enough to +tender the cattle for delivery. In the mean time, our pilot, the +red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. As for myself, I'm +going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls or wakes me in +the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a right smart +of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling."</p> +<p>Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the +herd in presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves +were grazed up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged +for the night, which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a +matter of precaution, a dead-line must be maintained between the +wintered and the through cattle; and as Manly was to remain another +year, he and an assistant were detailed to stay at headquarters. A +reduced mount of horses was allowed them, and starting the beeves +at daybreak, the wagon and remuda followed several hours later.</p> +<p>The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon +when the through herd was reached, grazed and watered to +surfeiting, and a single glance satisfied Joel Wells that the +cattle fully met every requirement. The question of age was +disposed of as easily as that of quality.</p> +<p>"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the +foreman, "and each age was held separate until the herds were made +up. I started with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, +with ten head extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our +count on leaving Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing +to class or count them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the +herd."</p> +<p>Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the +scattered cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a +straight count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived +his intent to classify the cattle.</p> +<p>"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm +going to class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and +Manly count against Sargent and myself."</p> +<p>A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing +formation, the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the +open the difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance +in quieting the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and +the count attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off +a number of the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. +Thereafter, the trail outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, +who sat their horses in speechless intensity, as the column filed +through at random. Each man used a string, containing ten knots, +checking the hundreds by slipping the knots, and when the last hoof +had passed in review, the quiet of a long hour was relieved by a +general shout, when the trail outfit dashed up to know the +result.</p> +<p>"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as +the quartette rode together.</p> +<p>"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in +for good measure. What's your count?"</p> +<p>"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered +Sargent, turning to Joel.</p> +<p>"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy.</p> +<p>The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young +fellow," said he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. +If you bought these cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be +safe in receiving them. We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and +fifteen hundred threes, and any overplus falls to the red-headed +pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud would call a Texas count and +classification. Shake out your horses; dinner's waiting."</p> +<p>There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an +assistant, and an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of +whom volunteered from the through outfit. The foreman was invited +to move up to headquarters and rest to his heart's content, but in +his anxiety to report to his employer, the invitation was +declined.</p> +<p>"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the +railroad until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do +is to get in touch with my Uncle Dudley."</p> +<p>"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" +sputtered Manly, as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the +beef herd.</p> +<p>"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If +this shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City +and pick up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. +Until you see or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your +cattle."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>INDEPENDENCE</h3> + +<p>The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the +beeves. Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, +and on the arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in +classifying it for market and corralling the different grades of +cattle.</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment +was safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the +morning. An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a +wire from the west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the +telegram to Joel; "wants all three of us to come into the +city."</p> +<p>"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear +enough. There's an understanding between us. At the earliest +convenience, after the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and +draw up the final papers. We'll all go in with this shipment."</p> +<p>"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?"</p> +<p>"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the +cattle train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the +outfits at the new trail market."</p> +<p>"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of +riding horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and +let me put my little feet under a table once more."</p> +<p>The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The +outfits received their orders, and at the usual hour in the +morning, the shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a +saddle, Dell was walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper +in charge, riding on the engine, or hungering for the rare stories +with which the trail foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed +like a brief hour, the train threading its way past corn fields, +country homes, and scorning to halt at the many straggling villages +that dotted the route.</p> +<p>It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The +present, their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen +hundred beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their +operations in cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, +could be condensed into a simple statement. The brothers could +barely wait the intervening hours, and when the train reached the +market and they had retired for the night, speculation ran rife in +planning the future. And amid all their dreams and air castles, in +the shadowy background stood two simple men whose names were never +mentioned except in terms of loving endearment.</p> +<p>Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. +"They're all good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a +prince. He gave us our start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we +can never pay it. And he never owned a hoof himself."</p> +<p>"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us +our chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of +making bound boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are +to-day."</p> +<p>"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves +by the train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand."</p> +<p>An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had +crossed the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place +during the afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. +The execution of a new contract was a mere detail; but when the +chief bookkeeper handed in a statement covering the shipments of +this and the previous year, a lull in the gayety was followed by a +moment of intense interest. The account showed a balance of +sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of Wells Brothers!</p> +<p>"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. +Stoddard, amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; +we're all going out to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains +on that market, and the boys want to stock their range fully."</p> +<p>"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. +"And if the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't +hesitate to draw on us. The manner in which they have protected +their credit entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come +first. Their prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies +before you boys, and we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in +touch with us; we may hear of something to your advantage."</p> +<p>"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring +Texas cattle into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel.</p> +<p>"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not +be able to, but in securing business, railroads look years +ahead."</p> +<p>A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning +found their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old +trail market of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild +sunflower, was passed like a way station. The new market was only a +mile over the state line, in Colorado, and on nearing their +destination the party drew together.</p> +<p>"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, +"and I want you to understand that there's no obligation to even +look at them. Mr. Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men +have not been seen since the herds passed north in June. But I'll +help you buy any cattle you want."</p> +<p>In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following +their fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape +up our holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For +that reason, we prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your +remnant; there would be no occasion to rebrand, which is an +advantage."</p> +<p>The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the +outer portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. +The Arkansas River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to +the main stream, affording abundant water to the herds on sale, +while a bountiful range surrounded the market. Shipping pens, +branding chutes, and every facility for handling cattle were +complete.</p> +<p>The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean +time, it became rumored about that the two boys who had returned +with Mr. Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of +cattle. The presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of +protection around the brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who +were made acquainted with his protégés and their +errand freely discussed.</p> +<p>"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a +group of his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and +another at Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest +Kansas. Just shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had +them on yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about +three thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter +of credit is good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle +myself. They naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an +interest in the boys. Their outfit ought to be in by +to-morrow."</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, +and every attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a +morning's drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been +carefully looked over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only +a few herds possessed their original numbers, none of which were +acceptable to the buyers, while the smaller ones frequently +contained the desired grade and age.</p> +<p>"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. +Stoddard, in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are +tired out, disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if +you'll buy out our little remnants and send us home--well, we'd +almost let you name the price. Unless my herds are under contract, +this is my last year on the trail."</p> +<p>The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred +head. They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and +as an inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser +age, and priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the +Beaver. On range markets, there was a difference in the selling +value of the two ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as +one third of the cattle would have classed as threes, Joel waived +his objection to their ages.</p> +<p>"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your +outfits home, but you hang around until we make up our herd."</p> +<p>"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice +would be to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer +makes them all alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come +out of the kinks, and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps +your cattle quiet and on the home range. You might keep an eye open +for any bargains in she stuff."</p> +<p>"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought +to have a cow to every ten or fifteen steers."</p> +<p>"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and +knows cattle right down to the split in their hoof. With his and +your judgment, we ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few +days."</p> +<p>The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The +next morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the +through outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a +detail, and the remainder of the men sent home by rail. In +acquiring a nucleus, Wells Brothers fell heir to a temporary range +and camp, which thereafter became their headquarters.</p> +<p>A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to +Sargent, and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his +best efforts to bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in +earnest, on the different fragments acceptable in age and quality. +Prices on range cattle were nearly standard, at least established +for the present, and any yielding on the part of drovers was in +classing and conceding ages. Bargaining began on the smaller +remnants, and once the buyers began to receive and brand, there was +a flood of offerings, and the herd was made up the second day. The +---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast as received, and +when completed, the herd numbered a few over thirty-four hundred +head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings was not +overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased.</p> +<p>"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but +we're only going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had +better hold over the line in Colorado until after the first +frost."</p> +<p>"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's +sure."</p> +<p>"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that +will take us home, with or without a bill of health."</p> +<p>The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and +the herd started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week +later it crossed the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the +herd, returning to their local station. A haying outfit was +engaged, placed under the direction of Manly, and after spending a +few days at headquarters, the young cowman returned to the +railroad.</p> +<p>The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight +danger in using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; +and after a conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the +country between their range and the Colorado line. The first herd +of cattle had located nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the +dead-line; and taking a pack horse, Joel and Manly started to +explore the country between the upper tributaries of the Beaver and +the Colorado line.</p> +<p>A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of +the first day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of +which was back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On +resuming their scout in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, +admitting of an immense survey of country, but not until evening +was water in any quantity encountered. The scouts were beginning to +despair of finding water for the night, when an immense herd of +antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an easy gallop and +disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game trail, a +perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. A +venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured.</p> +<p>The glare of the plain required early observation. The white +haze, heat waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out +distinct objects during the day. On leaving the friendly sand +hills, the horsemen bore directly for the timber on the Republican, +which was sighted the third morning, and reached the river by +noon.</p> +<p>No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the +new and old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging +from their hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new +crossing on the river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented +observations; and as they followed the high ground along the +Republican, at early evening indistinct objects were made out on +the border of a distant mirage.</p> +<p>The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the +optical illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, +forests and white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn +aside and rest. But the allurement of the mirage was an old story, +and holding the objects in view, they jogged on, halting from time +to time as the illusions lifted.</p> +<p>Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, +the objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted +Manly. "We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!"</p> +<p>"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the +valley! above that motte of cotton-woods!"</p> +<p>"It's a camp! Come on!"</p> +<p>The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the +scouts advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was +noticeable, and on a far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. +On reaching the cattle, a single glance was given, when the brands +told the remainder of the story.</p> +<p>A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, +and after hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: +"After leaving the Republican," said he, "there's water between +here and home in two places. None of them are over thirty miles +apart--a day and a half's drive. I have a bill of health for these +cattle, and turn the herd down the river in the morning."</p> +<p>The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. +The herd had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water +in abundance, the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from +home. There was no object in waiting any great distance from +headquarters, and after a day's travel down the Republican, a tack +was made for the sand hills.</p> +<p>A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, +followed by a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had +been sighted was reached at evening the next day.</p> +<p>It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was +decided to isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp +was within easy touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five +men, the commissary, and half the remuda, the remainder returned to +the Beaver valley. The water would hold the cattle, and even if a +month elapsed before frost lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy +every freedom.</p> +<p>The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the +Republican were paid for their services, commended for their +faithfulness, and went their way. Preparations for winter were the +next concern; and while holding the dead-line, plans for two new +line-camps were outlined, one below the old trail crossing and the +other an emergency shelter on the Prairie Dog. Forage had been +provided at both points, and in outlining the winter lines, Joel +submitted his idea for Manly's approval.</p> +<p>"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the +Beaver valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his +feet. "We'll have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break +through during a storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the +Prairie Dog. In case that line is broken, we can drop down to the +railroad and make another attempt to check any drift. And as a last +resort, whether we hold the line or not, we'll send an outfit as +far south as the Arkansas River, and attend the spring round-ups +from there north to the Republican. We have the horses and men, and +no one can throw out a wider drag-net than our outfit. Let the +winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead when spring +comes."</p> + +<p>The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except +in its new environment, their occupation was as old as the human +race, our heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They +belonged to a period in the development of our common country, +dating from a day when cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth +of our national domain. They and their kind were our pioneers, our +empire builders; for when a cowman pushed into some primal valley +and possessed it with his herd, his ranch became an outpost on our +frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their ranges were controlled +without investment, their cattle roamed the virgin pastures of an +unowned land.</p> +<p>Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the +course of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and +uncertain outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but +have arisen triumphant over every storm. From their humble +beginning, chronicled here, within two decades the brothers +acquired no less than seven ranches in the Northwest, while their +holdings of cattle often ran in excess of one hundred thousand +head. The trail passed away within two years of the close of this +narrative; but from their wide acquaintance with former drovers, +cattle with which to restock their ranches were brought north by +rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring trusty men; +and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors found ready +employment with their former protégés. And to-day, in +the many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the +arid regions, among the directors of their companies the names of +J.Q. Forrest and John P. Priest may be found.</p> +<p>A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis +of the West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, +gave way to the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler +crept up the valley, was repulsed again and again by the plain, +only to renew his assault until success crowned his efforts. It was +then that the brothers saw their day and dominion passing into the +hands of another. But instead of turning to new fields, they +remained with the land that nurtured and rewarded them, an equally +promising field opening in financing vast irrigation enterprises +and in conserving the natural water supply.</p> +<p>Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes +wrested from the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of +life, while the opportunities of a thrifty country invite their +assistance and leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested +in every development of their state, preferring those avenues where +heroic endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the +political arena.</p> +<p>Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure +of personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, +famed for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, +paid one of our heroes the following tribute:--</p> +<p>"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive +chair. We are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state +seems adrift, without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In +casting about for a governor who would fully meet all requirements, +one name stands alone. Joel Wells can give M---- a business +administration. Educated in the rough school of experience, he has +fought his way up from a poor boy on the plains to an enviable +leadership in the many industries of the state. He could bring to +the executive office every requirement of the successful business +man, and impart to his administration that mastery which marks +every enterprise of Wells Brothers...."</p> +<p>The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to +adorn this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his +chance in life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. +Material nature is prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass +under our feet, or in harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our +success.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12791 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12791-h/images/002.png b/12791-h/images/002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e223186 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/002.png diff --git a/12791-h/images/cover.jpg b/12791-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7874bbb --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg b/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a638605 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg diff --git a/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg b/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..df1cf61 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg diff --git a/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg b/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..de925e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg diff --git a/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg b/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9536943 --- /dev/null +++ b/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..339879b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12791 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12791) diff --git a/old/12791-0.txt b/old/12791-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..899080d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8227 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Wells Brothers + +Author: Andy Adams + +Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12791] +[Most recently updated: June 29, 2023] + +Language: English + +Produced by: Charlie Kirschner and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS *** + + + + +WELLS BROTHERS + +The Young Cattle Kings + +by + +ANDY ADAMS + +1911 + + + + +[Illustration: THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON (p.26)] + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + III. THE BOTTOM RUNG + IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + V. A FALL OF CRUMBS + VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK +VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + X. GOOD FIGHTING + XI. HOLDING THE FORT + XII. A WINTER DRIFT +XIII. A WELCOME GUEST + XIV. AN ILL WIND + XV. WATER! WATER! + XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT +XVII. "THE WAGON" +XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER + XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE + XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE + XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE + XXII. INDEPENDENCE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + + +The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for the +Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran drover, +Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway between the +former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious mishap befell +Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and the horse wrangler, +who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, reckless to the point of +injury, the pulse of healthy manhood beating a constant alarm to +rough contest. + +The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had overtaken +the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. During the evening, +a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when the stranger expressed a +wish to secure a specimen of the bird for its splendid plumage. On +Forrest's own suggestion, his being a long-range pistol and the covey +wary, the two exchanged belts. The visitor followed the flock, stealing +within range a number of times, and emptying the six-shooter at every +chance. On securing a fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the +herd, elated over his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before +returning the belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of +five cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and pistol +were returned to their owner. + +Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while the +outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in pastoral +contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the morning's work, when +the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly remarked: "If everybody's +ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; it's high time we were in the +saddle. Of course, that means the parting tussle between Quince and the +wrangler. It would be a shame to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- +they remind me so much of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in +and worry each other a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. +Fly at it, or we mount." + +The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the men +swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility of a +tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him to the +ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had barely time to +turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the two crashed against +the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was discharged. The men dismounted +instantly, the wrangler eased the victim to the ground, and when the +outfit gathered around, the former was smothering the burning clothing +of his friend and bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was +the first indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found +that the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground. + +The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular remarks of +the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly recalled to the +surrounding group, while the negligence which caused the accident was +politely suppressed. The stranger, innocently unaware of any mistake on +his part, lent a valuable hand in stanching the blood and in washing and +binding up the wounds. No bones were injured, and with youth and a +buoyant constitution, there was every hope of recovery. + +However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No one could +recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican River, unless +down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the visitor came to the +rescue. He was positive that some two years before, an old soldier had +taken a homestead five or six miles above the trail crossing on the +Beaver. He was insistent, and the foreman yielded so far as to order the +herd grazed forward to the Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in +their front. All the blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought +into use, in making a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan +started, carrying the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, +the foreman bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek. + +The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be correct. +About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, fringed with +willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which the homestead was +located. The presence of the willows was an indication of old beaver +dams, which the settler had improved until the water stood in long, +placid pools. In response to their hail, two boys, about fourteen and +sixteen years of age, emerged from the dug-out and greeted the horsemen. +On inquiry, it proved that their father had died during the previous +winter, at a settlement on the Solomon River, and the boys were then +confronted with the necessity of leaving the claim to avoid suffering +want. It was also learned that their mother had died before their father +had taken the homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight +their own battle. + +The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were bright-eyed +and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. Joel was the +oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by nature, with a shock +of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in height, the younger was the +equal of his brother, talkative, and frank in countenance. When made +acquainted with the errand of the trail boss, the older boy shook his +head, but Dell stepped forward: "Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of +his hand, "but our garden failed, and there won't be a dozen +roasting-ears in that field of corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it +might make fodder. We expect to pull out next week." + +"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman. + +"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's pension +was stopped. You see--" + +"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can help each +other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter and nurse this +wounded man of mine--" + +"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the sooner we +get out and find work the better." + +"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail man, now +aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a quarter +of beef." + +"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh meat." + +"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave the money +with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, I'll unload my +wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. I can get more +provision at the Republican River, and in the mean time, something +may turn up." + +The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the necessity of +accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every suggestion, but his +brother was tactful, questioning and combating the men, and looking +well to the future. A cold and unfriendly world, coupled with +misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his years, while the younger +one was sympathetic, trustful, and dependent. + +"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," said Dell +to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in time for +corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth fifty cents." + +"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this wounded +man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell how soldiers +died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we have to go, we +might as well go at once." + +According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the wayfaring +man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good Samaritan, the +older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with enthusiasm at the +opportunity of rendering every assistance. + +"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, but it's +because we're so poor and have nothing to offer." + +"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let me do the +rest." + +"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?" + +"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll leave two +good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you need to do is +to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and simply tell them +you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don Lovell's boys, and you can +levy on them for all they have. It's high time you were getting +acquainted with these trail outfits. Shelter this man of mine, and all +will come out well in the end. Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you +boys, and he might take you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, +and he might take a fancy to you two." + +Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two brothers +reëntered the dug-out, and the men led their horses down to the creek +for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood inside a wooden corral, a +rickety wagon and a few rusty farming implements were scattered about, +while over all the homestead was the blight of a merciless +summer drouth. + +"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail boss to the +stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this water and range, +in a few years they would be independent men. No wonder that oldest boy +is cautious. Just look around and see the reward of their father's and +their own labor. Their very home denies them bread." + +"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, "when you +suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only argument that +touched him." + +"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have several +cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs and the +like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make their hungry +hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest would make the +ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving them each a saddle +pony; argue the matter, and try and win me over." + +The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when scarcely +halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to meet them. "If +you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," earnestly said the boy, +"we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to be feverish at night, and +ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can sleep outside or in the stable." + +"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter I'll bet +my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? Why, you can +have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the outfit. I have a +rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I have a lurking suspicion +that there are a few genuine goose-hair pillows in the outfit, and you +may pick and choose. They are all yours for the asking." + +The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for entering +the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. When all +agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their horses, promising to +fulfill their part of the covenant that afternoon or evening. + +Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is all +right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he tried to +shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. Hereafter, in +dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The death of his parents +has developed a responsibility in the older boy which the younger one +doesn't feel. That's about all the difference in the two lads. You must +deal gently with Joel, and never offend him or expose his needs." + +"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's the name +of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home with those +boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a week he'll have +those youngsters walking on clouds." + +The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a dust +cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then hidden behind +the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On every hand the +undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and the men rode forward +at a leisurely pace. + +"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail foreman, +arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. This government +ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, robbing children, +orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a fair sample of the skin +game the government's running--bets you one hundred and sixty acres +against fourteen dollars you can't hold down a homestead for five years. +And big as the odds look, in nine cases out of ten, in this country, the +government wins. It ought to be convicted on general principles. Men are +not to be pitied, but it's a crime against women and children." + +"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the stranger; "you +would kick if you were being hung. There's good in everything. A few +years of youthful poverty, once they reach manhood, isn't going to hurt +those boys. The school of experience has its advantages." + +"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next few +years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. "Now, there's +the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and select a good camp, +well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet the commissary and herd. +We'll have to lay over this afternoon, which will admit of watering the +herd twice to-day. Try and find some shade." + +The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman hailed +his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and reported securing a +haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook to watch for a signal, +at the hands of the stranger, indicating a camp on the creek, he turned +and awaited the arrival of the lead cattle of the trailing column. +Issuing orders to cover the situation, he called off half the men, first +veering the herd to the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon +and saddle horses. + +Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long pool. A +hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which a tarpaulin +was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered canopy. Amid a fire +of questions, the wounded man was lifted from the wagon. + +"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said he +appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there is, I +ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can see your +eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me peevish. I want to +feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, tell it all over +once more." + +The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which the +foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and making +valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their guest while +he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after the accident, by +insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the boys and bespeaking +their protection. + +The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew that the +hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the same. "Very +well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my calf that's +gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every stranger that +comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly cow hands." He +hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he continued, "about this +nester layout is those red-headed boys. And these two are just about +petting age. I can almost see them eating sugar out of my hand." + +After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of medical +aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had returned and +reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately the destination of +the stranger was a settlement on the Republican River, and he +volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night and secure a +surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile calls. The owner +of the herd, had he been present, would have insisted on medical +attention, the wounded man reluctantly consented, and the stranger, +carrying a hastily written letter to Mr. Lovell, took his departure. + +Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, but in a +roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the one-room shack was +bountifully provisioned, while the foreman remained to await the arrival +of a physician. The day had brought forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from +the dark hour of want to the dawn of plenty, while the future was a +sealed book. In addition to the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung +in the sod stable, while two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the +questioning boys. + +"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as their backs +were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see they are unfit for +saddle, but with a little attention can be cured--I'll show you how. You +have an abundance of water, and after I leave, wash their backs, morning +and evening, and they'll be well in a month. Since you are running a +trail hospital, you want to cater to man and beast. Of course, if you +boys nurse this man through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal +to Mr. Lovell to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case +you return to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here." + +The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The transformation +seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was toned and tempered +by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day had filled empty hearts +with happiness, and when darkness fell, the boys threw off all former +reserve, and the bond of host and guest was firmly established. Forrest, +even, cemented the tie, by dividing any needful attention between +the boys. + +"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the presence of +the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest one Doc and the +youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them just plain Joel and +Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor bright, I never met a boy +who can pour water on a wound, that seems to go to the right spot, like +Dell Wells. One day with another, give me a red-headed boy." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + + +The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in the +tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to pouring +water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had reached a swollen +condition by morning, and considerable anxiety was felt over the +uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned the previous evening, +it was possible that one might arrive by noon, otherwise there was no +hope before evening or during the night. + +"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor comes +from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and save an +hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to the first +divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it when he went +to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the doctor a six or +seven mile drive." + +"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the trail +foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can post the +boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this afternoon or +evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the stirrup straps on +Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?" + +"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired the +horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now that a +chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. "Why, I can +follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used to go halfway to +the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new boots." + +"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient seems +to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there will be +plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share." + +The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after the horse +stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object lesson to the +boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting the horse to be +fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell was allowed to ride +past the tent for inspection. + +"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell halted +before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think that that boy +was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle poise, will you, +Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is slightly sun-burned. We must +get him some boots. With that red hair, he never ought to ride any other +horse than a black stallion." + +When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent to +intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided the +matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply can't spare +Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, and we'll have to +give it an occasional rubbing to keep the circulation up. There's where +Dell has the true touch; actually he reminds me of my mother. She could +tie a rag around a sore toe, in a way that would make a boy forget all +his trouble. Hold Joel a minute." + +The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded man, and +when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he continued: "Now, +Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with you. Show them the brand +on that horse you're riding, and give them distinctly to understand, +even if you are barefooted, that you are one of Don Lovell's men. Of +course you don't know him, but with that old man, it's love me, love my +dog. Get your dinner with the outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the +south. There's liable to be another herd along any day, and we'll need +a cow." + +Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of age; +neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts went out in +manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the other hand, a day had +brought forth promise and fulfillment, from strangers, to the boys, +until the latter's confidence knew no bounds. At random, the men +virtually spoke of the cattle on a thousand hills, until the boys fully +believed that by merely waving a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow +walk forth. Where two horses were promised, four had appeared. Where +their little store of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been +multiplied many fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with +intrusion, a tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, +had risen out of a dip in the plain. + +There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any discourtesy +to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman saddled his horse and +accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully reviewing the details of his +errand. Left behind, and while rubbing the wounded limb, Dell regaled +his patient with a scrap of family history. "Pa never let us boys go +near the trail," said he. "It seemed like he was afraid of you Texas +men; afraid your cattle would trample down our fields and drink up all +our water. The herds were so big." + +"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, "the owner +would pay for it, which would be better than letting it go to waste. One +day's hot winds would absorb more water than the biggest herd of cattle +could drink. This ain't no farming country." + +"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this season, +and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me rub your knee, +there where the bullet skipped, between the bandages." + +The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning farming +for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," said he, +"was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given them the water, +with or without price, and bought any cripples or sore-footed cattle. +Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle on these long drives, and +he could have bought them for a song and sung it himself. The buffalo +grass on the divides and among these sand hills is the finest winter +grazing in the country. This water that you are wasting would have +yearly earned you one hundred head of cripples. A month's rest on this +creek and they would kick up their heels and play like calves. After +one winter on this range, they would get as fat as plover. Your father +missed his chance by not making friends with the Texas trail men." + +"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell. + +"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, you and +Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. Cast your +bread upon the waters." + +"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There was a +marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the trail boss +cantered up to the tent. + +"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a dim +trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to have built +a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle trail. In case the +doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent orders to fly a flag at the +junction, and Joel to return home. But if the doctor doesn't reach there +until after darkness, he'll never see the flag, and couldn't follow the +trail if he did. We'll have to send Joel back." + +"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; build it +in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the road." + +"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to Dell, +"but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse and turn him +in the corral." + +The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came riding +in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the herd, a flag +had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other instructions +delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance to the ford on the +Republican, and could figure to an hour, by different saddle gaits, the +necessary time to cover the distance, even to Culbertson. Still there +was a measure of uncertainty: the messenger might have lost his way; +there might not have been any physician within call; accidents might +have happened to horse or rider,--and one hour wore away, followed +by another. + +Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six o'clock. "It's +my intention to follow him within an hour," said the foreman, as the boy +rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build the fire as well as any +one, and we'll return before midnight. That'll give the doctor the last +minute and the benefit of every doubt." + +The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over the +valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the neigh of a +horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers when he sights a +wagon or camp. Dell's come." + +Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a buckboard +following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle rattled up, led by +the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a battery of artillery. "This +is the place, Doctor," said he, as if dismissing a troop from +cavalry drill. + +The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had left +Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team at the +ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles since +sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," said he, as he +entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to do. Your men with the +herd told me how the accident happened." Then to Forrest, "Son, think +it'll ever happen again?" + +"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," replied +Forrest. + +"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: they +usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," commented the +doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the examination proceeded, +there was a running comment maintained, bordering on the humorous. + +"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would allow the +boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short lecture on the +danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a loaded cartridge. The +boys are young and may take the lesson seriously, but you're wasting +good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm an old dog." + +"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued the +doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. There's an +occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but that's not in my +department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry for muscle, but +fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is just a simple case of +treatment and avoiding complications. Six weeks to two months and you +can buckle on your six-shooter again. Hereafter, better wear it on the +other side, and if another accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in +each leg and level you up." + +"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," protested +Forrest. + +"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with a quiet +wink at the others. + +The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the boys. +Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance of making +friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the purchase of +disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the boys were snugly +in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd to-day?--afraid of the +cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former subject was exhausted. + +"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of his +bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other folks." + +Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not shooting and +galloping their horses?" + +"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a shot +fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a hair, and they +changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I could see, they +wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely cowboys, because they +had over three thousand big beeves, and had come all the way +from Texas." + +"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment. + +"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The column of +cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city street, and +the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of their own accord. +Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no one as much as looked +at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. The herd seemed so easy +to handle." + +"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell. + +"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for their +places. Those in the lead were _point_ men, those in the middle were +_swing_ men, and the one who brought up the rear was the _drag_ man. +Then there was the cook, who drove the wagon, and the wrangler, who took +care of the horses--over one hundred and forty head. They call the band +of saddle horses the remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for +relay--a relay of horses." + +"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would buy us a +cow from the next herd that passed." + +"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the Yellowstone +River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the smartest cattle! +An hour before noon one of the point men gave a shrill whistle, and the +whole column of beeves turned aside and began feeding. The men called it +'throwing the herd off the trail to graze.' It was just like saying +_halt_! to soldiers--like we saw at that reunion in Ohio." + +"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger brother. + +"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on horseback. Stop +asking foolish questions and go to sleep," concluded Joel, with pitying +finality, and turned to the wall. + +"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" There was +challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no answer. A +seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight over the other, +in range cattle, and there was no common ground between sleepy +bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted in the doctor, +anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded his assertion. + +Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the wounds. The +doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged otherwise. "Let's call it +Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. Besides, if I overtake the herd, +I'll have to make a hand. Wait until to-morrow, and we'll bear each +other company. If another herd shows up on the trail to-day, it may have +a cow. We must make these boys comfortable." + +The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by quarreling with +his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel rode out to the +nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on the upper Beaver. +"That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, "and where we get our +wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the bottom land has grown up +with timber, some as big as a man's body. It doesn't look very far away, +but it takes all day to go and come, hauling wood. There's big springs +just above, and the water never fails. That's what makes the trees +so thrifty." + +"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said Priest, +surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There are the sand +hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet of grass." + +"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had to go +to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and what we could +earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved up; pa's service +in the army counted on the residence required. It doesn't matter now if +we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is to keep the taxes paid." + +"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail boss in +fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you boys only had +the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on shares, or buy +young steers on a credit." + +"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully replied +Joel. + +"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly replied +the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of your +beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are hunting a +market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the range, and the +cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it." + +"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in his +bewilderment. + +"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and every +one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. "Range is +being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's your chance. +Water and grass, world without end." + +Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older man's +advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The grind of +poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely looked +forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the domain +surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I don't doubt your +advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you could, but Dell and +I had better return to the settlements. Mr. Quince will surely be +well by fall." + +"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman. + +"I will," eagerly replied the boy. + +"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you are +thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if he knows +any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to stock it. In +the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do that?" + +"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the promise. + +"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended on +securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows all the +drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until the season +ends. Now, don't fail to ask him." + +"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that control +of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that it had +a value?" + +"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never lose sight +of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten thousand cattle, +the year round, is as good as money in the bank." + +Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned their +horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the southward, but were +unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the signal of an approaching +herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that he had instilled interest and +inquiry into the boy's mind, which, if carefully nurtured, might result +in independence. They had ridden several miles, discussing different +matters, and when within sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his +horse. "Would you mind repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, +about control of a range by prior rights?" + +The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On the +range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates back to the +first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense of equity and +justice which has always existed among pastoral people. In America it +dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. Among us Texans, a man's +range is respected equally with his home. By merely laying claim to the +grazing privileges of public domain, and occupying it with flocks or +herds, the consent of custom gives a man possession. It is an asset that +is bought and sold, and is only lost when abandoned. In all human +migrations, this custom has followed flocks and herds. Title to land is +the only condition to which the custom yields." + +"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with cattle, and +hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated the boy. + +"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's primal +range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, the settler, +seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is yours. Go in +and win." + +"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel. + +"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. That +old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. There's an +old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now if you have the +will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince will find the way. +Try him, anyhow." + +"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the morning." + +The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening was spent +in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, Priest said to the +doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd like your opinion about +these boys starting a little ranch on the Beaver." + +"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, "there are +too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise nothing out +here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are you cowmen. You +ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, and your general +health is actually discouraging to my profession. Yes, I think I'll have +to approve of the suggestion. A life in the open, an evening by a +camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I wish I had my life to live +over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wells Brothers making a big +success as ranchmen. They have health and youth, and there's nothing +like beginning at the bottom of the ladder. In fact, the proposition has +my hearty approval. Fight it out, boys; start a ranch." + +"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen want to +make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses while I get +breakfast. Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BOTTOM RUNG + + +An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, as the +Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity of pastoral +life affects its people, influencing their normal natures into calm and +tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected start at sunrise, after +breakfast the trail foreman languidly sauntered out to the corral, +followed by the boys. + +The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you think is +detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun is nearly an +hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him from the tent +opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with his quirt and +chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they are talking about?" + +"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll chance the +subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow with the boys, +most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life easy--the cows will calve +in the spring." + +Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss put in an +appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, are you, +Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile. + +"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. Still, I +am some little distance from home, and have a family that likes to see +me occasionally." + +The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest to the +boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable to think of +something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to killing time, that +old boy is the bell steer." + +Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was to +intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance among +trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days before, while +passing that supply point, and it was a matter of waiting until a herd +should appear. + +There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the nearest +swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working overtime; the dust +cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the message, the sentinel's +horse tore past the tent and was only halted at the corral. "It's +there!" he shouted, returning, peering through the tent-flaps. "They're +coming; another herd's coming. It's in the dip behind the first divide. +Shall I go? I saw it first." + +"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and let's make a +little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we get a cow. Come +in and we'll plot against the Texans." + +With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, Forrest +continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk the situation +over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the trouble is, we +don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play innocent and foxy. +If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll water in the Beaver about +four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek and keep your eagle eye open for +a lone horseman, either at the crossing or on the trail. That's the +foreman, and that's the man we want to see. He may be ten miles in the +lead of his herd, and you want to ride straight to him. Give him all the +information you can regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of +Lovell's herds. That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up +to your errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask the +foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your work is +over, except going back after the cow." + +Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold on," +commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride slowly, let +your horse set his own pace, and don't come back without your man. Make +out that I'm badly wounded, and that you feel uneasy that blood +poisoning may set in." + +The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of the +tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount over +level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the horse, and +before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came in view of the +anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the horizon, the haze and +heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view that every object looked +blurred and indistinct. Even the dust cloud was missing; and pushing on +a mile farther, he reined in again. Now and then in the upper sky, an +intervening cloud threw a shadow over the plain, revealing objects more +distinctly. For a moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like +prophecy fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford! + +In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a fellow +being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing distance, +greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. There was +water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no pilot, the summons +found a ready response, and the two were soon riding up the Beaver in +a jog trot. + +The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon had +Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell outfit," said +the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. Old man Don's a +nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on the trail. I've been +expecting to hear something like this. If it isn't rebranding their +saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure to be something worse. And +now that flat-headed Quince Forrest plows a fire-guard down his own leg +with a six-shooter! Well, wouldn't that sour sweet milk!" + +"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his pistol, +and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge." + +"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's an old +story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some prowling +tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this short-horn. Yes, +I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his saddle and ride +bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. Rather shallow-brained +to be allowed so far from home." + +"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At least Mr. +Quince don't speak very highly of that man." + +"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth ever comes +out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel Quince is +famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable door. That +other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of Bibles, never to +bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game never repeats; the play +never comes up twice alike. If that old boy's gray matter ever comes to +full bloom, long before his allotted time, he'll wither away." + +Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend was +weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either Priest or +Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming faults of others +that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even questioned Dell with +such an innocent countenance that the lad withered before his glance, +and became disheartened at the success of the errand. Forced to the +defense continually, on several occasions Dell nearly betrayed the +object of bringing the new man to the homestead, but in each instance +was saved by some fortunate turn in the conversation. Never was sight +more welcome than the tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief +from duty more welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to +the boy who had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the +object of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust. + +The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, in order +to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and the flaps, +rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, Forrest watched +the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, the wounded man's +greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old Nat Straw," said he, +extending his hand. "Here, I've been running over in my mind the +different trail bosses who generally go north of the Platte River, but +you escaped my memory. It must have gotten into my mind, somehow, that +you had married and gone back to chopping cotton. Still driving for +Uncle Jess Ellison, I reckon?" + +"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, glancing at +the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying off, and trying +to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You must be +getting doty." + +"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged that +I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a fool all +your life!" + +Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the boy, as we +rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of fixing in your upper +loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend you, but it was easy to see +that he hadn't known you long." + +"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said Forrest. +"Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I overlooked +warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I can see old Nat +leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors dragging. Don't +believe a word he told you, and don't even give him a pleasant look +while he stays here." + +The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, to water +and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," resumed +Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my hard luck, I've fallen +into angels' hands. These boys are darling fellows. Now before you +leave, square yourself with that youngest one." + +"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied Straw. +"It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that you hear and +only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe hunting oftener +when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. There are just about +so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've got to take them along +with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and mumps." + +During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the sad +condition which confronted the lads, when accident and necessity threw +him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's opinion of the valuable +range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and urged his assistance in +securing some cattle with which to stock and claim it for the boys. + +"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a start in +life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've turned hundreds of +them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the delivery of a herd. +Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of mine to get a few hundred +head during this summer. Here's the place to drop your cripples and +stray cows. From what Paul says, there's range above here for thousands +of cattle, and that's the foundation of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, +it has a value in proportion to its carrying capacity, and Priest and I +want these boys to secure it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to +make a fight for them." + +The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me in and +we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this year to the +same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as last season, and +I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my hands last summer, +held me down to the straight road brand at delivery, and I'll see to it +that there are no strays in my herd this year. I went hungry for fresh +beef, and gave those sharks over forty good strays. They knew I'd have +to leave them behind me. Watch me do it again." + +"About how many have you now, and how do they run?" + +"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a good cow +down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five head, and I'll +cut you out five or six cripples. They could never make it +through, nohow." + +"Any calves among the strays?" + +"Two or three." + +"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the others to +me. We'll let on that I've bought them." + +That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was eaten in +the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail crossing that +afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut out all strays and +cripples. One of the boys would return with him, for the expected cow, +and when volunteers were called for, Dell hesitated in offering his +services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw to Joel, who had jumped at the +chance. "I'm a little weak on this red-headed boy, and when a cow hand +picks on me for his side partner, the choice holds until further orders. +Bring in the horses off picket, son, and we'll be riding." + +The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy departed +than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in love with the +idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to be; just about +midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog wild to get in on +it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get sick myself, and I want to +be a stockholder in this hospital of yours. What's your favorite +color in cows?" + +Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me a +milk-white cow _with a black face_" instantly said Forrest. "White cows +are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to drink +black coffee." + +"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what color +for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no answer. + +"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a dollar a +head more than mongrel colors." + +"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can pick +his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that little passel +of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to Forrest, "that I'm +sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the cows. Yes, I'm coming +back and stay all night." + +Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming back, was +going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but that this +stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he would not trifle +with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded man. All this seemed +so in keeping with the partial outline of Priest, the old gray-haired +foreman, that the boy's caution gave place to firm belief. If generous +princes ever walked the earth, it was just possible that liberal ones in +the rough were still riding it in disguise. + +Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," said he, +throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along with this +strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white one, and you're +to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your place, I'd pick a red +one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head more than any other color." + +There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his brother had +not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered the younger boy. + +"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, with a +loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. "I left it +to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. And say, this +hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one between Dodge and +Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take stock in it. I wonder if +that was what he meant by sawing off a little passel of cattle on Mr. +Quince. Now, don't argue or ask foolish questions, but keep your eyes +and ears open." + +Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to meet his +herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the cattle, then +nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses and rode for the +rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard of the trailing +cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed animals were to be found. +The drag men knew them to a hoof, were delighted to hear that all +cripples were to be dropped, and half a dozen were cut off and started +up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the nearest water," said Straw to the drag +men, "and then push them up the creek until I overtake you. Here's where +we drop our strays and cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail +hospital." + +The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They filled +the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, crowding into +the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek in slaking their +thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost as uniform in size as +that many marbles, and the ease with which a few men handled the herd +became a nine-day wonder to the astonished boy. And when the word passed +around to cut all strays up the creek, the facility with which the men +culled out the alien down to one class and road brand, proved them +masters in the craft. It seemed as easily done as selecting a knife +from among the other trinkets in a boy's pocket. + +After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail boss +drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and classed them +as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with the cripples, the +promised little passel numbered thirty-five cattle, not counting three +calves. Straw excused his men, promising to overtake them the next +morning, and man and boy drifted the nucleus of a future ranch toward +the homestead. + +"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," said +Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one for +yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your choice. Any +time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to pick one for your +own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or bad. Remember, it +carries my compliments to you, as one of the founders of the first +hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle trail." + +Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were dropped to +the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get these tender +steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above the improvements. +You'll find them near here on the water. Now, we'll sight the tent +around the next bend, and you may point out your choice." + +"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, pointing out +a yearling. + +A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted Straw; +"shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that black cow +and calf?" + +"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've heard they +bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the bunch." + +"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her increase +would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a cowman, you'll have +to do some of your own thinking." + +Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally guilty, as +his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived from the random +remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in range cattle, and +Dell's error was based in not relying on his own judgment. + +On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased around to +the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the little herd was +grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving Dell to nurse the +nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted at the tent. "Well," +said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, "that red-headed Dell is +surely the making of a great cowman. All successful men begin at the +bottom of the ladder, and he surely put his foot on the lowest rung. +What do you suppose his choice was?" + +"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest. + +"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if he +didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!" + +Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his laughter. +"Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can say Dell wasn't +true to his colors." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + + +The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the crippled +cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing needful, and +it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. They were driven up +among the others, now scattered about in plain sight in the valley +above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral contentment. + +"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to Forrest, as +the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make this valley look +good. What you want to do now is to keep on drawing more. Don't allow no +outfit to pass without chipping in, at least give them the chance, and +this trail hospital will be on velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell +outfits will tear their shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that +needn't bar the other herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they +can chip in a sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and +if they won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. +You ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays." + +The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply points were +oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long stretches of +unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle to the Northwest, +was an unknown port. The monotony of from three to five months on the +trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, while a glass of milk or +even an hour in the shade was a distinct relief. Straw was reluctant to +go, returning to make suggestions, by way of excuse, and not until +forced by the advancing day did he mount and leave to overtake his herd. + +Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of brands +and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson in reading +brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to right," said +Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or downward. If more than +one brand is on an animal, the upper one is the holding or one in which +ownership is vested. Character brands are known by name, and are used +because difficult to alter. There is scarcely a letter in the alphabet +that a cattle thief can't change. When a cow brute leaves its home +range, it's always a temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and +characters are not so easily changed." + +The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that cattle +were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A notice was +accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, from the Texas +and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same, +including all its tributaries, by virtue of possession and occupancy +vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. "How does that sound?" inquired +Forrest, its author, giving a literal reading of the notice. "Nothing +small or stingy about that, eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty." + +"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big country?" +pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this creek." + +"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we make a +spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice down at the +trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see it, and nail your +colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and must be respected." + +Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was detailed on +sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each trip he managed to +find some excuse to ride among the cattle. "What's the brand on my white +cow?" inquired Forrest, the object leading up to another peculiarity +in color. + +"I couldn't _read_ it," said Dell, airing his range parlance. + +"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" inquired the +wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue. + +"Not that I remember; why?" + +"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one color that +she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a white face, but +you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored face. That line is +drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never shoot a wild swan with +a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, or meet a pure white cow +with a black face. Hereafter, if any one attempts to send you on a +wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, tell them that no such animal ever +walked this earth." + +Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was sighted by +the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned themselves to random +conversation. + +"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you why you +picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a cow. Straw +laughed at you." + +"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more than any +other color." + +"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority for that +statement?" + +"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to Mr. +Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in defense of +his actions. + +"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you actually +know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the best brand +reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, as furnished by +Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I want the road and ranch +brand on the cripples, and the only or holding brand on the others. Now, +fool one another if you can. Ride through them slowly, and the one who +brings me a perfect list is my bully boy." + +The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several hours +were spent in copying brands. These included characters, figures, and +letters, and to read them with skill was largely a matter of practice. +Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this instance the amateur's list +would be compared with that of an experienced trail foreman, a neutral +judge from which there was no appeal. + +The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them read, +but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in reading +characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half dozen of the +latter in Straw's list, a _turkey track_ being the most difficult to +interpret, but when all characters were fully understood, Joel still had +four errors to Dell's three. The cripples were found to be correct in +each instance, and were exempt from further disturbance. Forrest now +insisted that to classify, by enumerating each grade, would assist in +locating the errors, which work would have to be postponed +until morning. + +The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. Forrest +regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of the Texans in +reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," said he, "we have +boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a novel. I know men who +can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, as they leave a corral, or +trail along, and not only classify them but also give you every brand +correctly. Now, that's the kind of cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, +and to-morrow morning you must get these brands accurate. What +was that?" + +Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded like a +shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant hail. + +"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the creek." + +"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in this +country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it up with a +Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest knoll. It's more +than likely some trail man hunting this camp." + +The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was some +fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching horse was +distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, and the prompt +hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is Quince Forrest here?" +he inquired, as his horse shied at the tent. + +"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice the +horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. "Come in +and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face." + +Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling at a +straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. Priest +wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted suicide--unfortunate in +love was the reason given--and I have orders to inquire into your health +or scatter flowers on your grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no +complications, I hope?" + +"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage. + +"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, and I rode +through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to eat, now would +be an awful nice time to mention it." + +Seay's wants were looked after. + +"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired Forrest, +resuming the conversation. + +"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both herds--live with +the lead one and occasionally go back and see my own. It all depends on +who feeds best." + +"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued Forrest. + +"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three o'clock +to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. My outfit acts +as rear-guard to Blocker's herd." + +These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each other in +months, and a fire of questions followed, and were answered. The +chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and field, led up to +the prospects for a northern demand for cattle. + +"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to a +question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will leave +Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man Don isn't +driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will pass Ogalalla +before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive going north of the +Platte will come next month. With the exception of scattering herds, the +first of August will end the drive." + +The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in the +tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in life. + +"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't tasted +meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. It's a good +range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year may be a little +tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for the necessary +staples, we can provision them until next spring. You must leave some +flour and salt and beans and the like." + +"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you ever +notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit gets +tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, and after +the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie chicken and fried +trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an elegant taste for dainties. +Nothing but good old beef ever makes them even think of home again. Yes, +my cook will give you his last bean, and make a presentation +speech gratis." + +Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had left +the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making crutches. +Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them out, and by +assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased into an old family +rocking-chair in the shade of the tent. + +"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some old +patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white cow +yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your uncle John +Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up as a reward to +complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you ready?" + +The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with the one +rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's regarding a +dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under the +classification the errors were easily located, and summoning the +visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation. + +"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's the +roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell and Joel's. +Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting the list perfect, +and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel differs on a +three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, get them straight, +because we're expecting to receive more cattle this evening. Pass on +these brands before you leave to meet your herd this afternoon. And +remember, there's a cow and calf at stake for whichever one of these +boys first gets the roll correct." + +After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The cattle were +lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding within a rod, thus +rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell led the way to the dun +cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, the boy called for his list +in possession of the man. "Let me take my roll a minute," said he, "and +I'll make the correction. It isn't a four bar four, it's four equals +four; there's two bars instead of one. The cow and calf is mine. That +gives me three." + +The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been fairly +earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's errors were +easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the mere failure to +note the lines of difference between the figure eight and the letter S +had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay amused himself by pointing +out different animals and calling for their brands, and an envious +rivalry resulted between the brothers, in their ability to read +range script. + +"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode homeward, "are +gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever forgotten. Twenty +years hence, you boys will remember all these brands. One man can read +brands at twice the distance of another, and I have seen many who could +distinguish cattle from horses, with the naked eye, at a distance of +three miles. When a man learns to know all there is about cattle, he +ought to be getting gray around the edges." + +Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice might trip +his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's nothing like having +studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, and it won him a cow and +calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. I wonder how he is on +driving mules." + +"I can drive them," came the prompt reply. + +"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the trail +crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything they give you +and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we begin laying in a +year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, followed by a late spring, +and there's nothing like having enough. Relieve them of all their dried +fruits, and make a strong talk for the staples of life. I may want to +winter here myself, and a cow camp should make provision for more or +less company." + +Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," said +he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of the +herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form." + +It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the trail +crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a quandary, +between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the passing herds, yet +a bond of obligation to the wounded man required his obedience. Forrest +had noticed the horse under saddle, the impatience of the boy, but +tactfully removed all uneasiness. + +"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare you this +afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, but we have so +much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you must get me four +poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and make a sunshade out +of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. Have the props ready, and +in the morning Seay will show you how to stretch a tarpaulin for a +sunshade. And then along towards evening, you must drift our little +bunch of cattle at least a mile up the creek. I'm expecting more this +evening, and until we learn the brands on this second contingent, they +must be kept separate. And then, since we've claimed it, we want to make +a showing of occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. +Within a month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and +be watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it." + +Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the arbor, were +cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at hand. When the +cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday rest, the impatient +lad was allowed to graze them around the bend of the creek. There was +hardly enough work to keep an active boy employed, and a social hour +ensued. "Things are coming our way," said Forrest. "This man Seay will +just about rob Blocker's outfit. When it comes to making a poor mouth, +that boy Dorg is in a class by himself. Dell will just about have a +wagon load. You boys will have to sleep in the tent hereafter." + +It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to the +carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in the +staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and beans, while +a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots which, after a +wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were among the assets. It +was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a free discard of two trail +outfits, all of which found an acceptable lodgment at the new ranch. + +"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. Blocker's +foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He says that when +he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only put on the little +and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's such a funny fellow. He +made me try on those boots, and when he saw they would fit, he ordered +their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to give them to me or he would fight +him at sunrise." + +"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. "Well, +that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new country. This +ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my crutch for a wand, +and everything we need seems to just bob up out of the plain. Cattle +coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming to supper, in fact, +everything coming our way. Dell, get up a banquet--who cares +for expense!" + +It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed above the +homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, the cripples +had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the next morning. With +the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to reach the opening, and by +clinging to the tent-pole, waved a welcome to the approaching trail men. + +Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted his +host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what kind of a +dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the square, there goes +my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the gift carries the +compliments of my employer, Captain John. That red-headed boy delivered +my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out that I'm somebody that's come +a long way, and that you're tickled to death to see me, and order the +fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I won't even dismount." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A FALL OF CRUMBS + + +An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to overtake +their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully employed. The +cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the commissary stores +assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men had stretched the +sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state before his own +tent door. + +The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, they were a +mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. Occasionally a trail +foreman would provide his outfit with a milk cow before starting, or +gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly given his cow to the +hospital on the Beaver. + +A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the twilight +of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and only ceased near +the middle of the following forenoon. The creek filled to its banks, the +field and garden freshened in a day, and the new ranch threw off the +blight of summer drouth. + +"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst forth at +noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now that water is +sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will cool the weather and +freshen the grass, and every drover with herds on the trail will push +forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol the crossing on the Beaver, +as the rain will lay the dust for a week and rob us of our signal." + +The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was daily +detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a herd, if timing +its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could be sighted. On a +primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle trail, every benefit to +the herd was sought, and the freshened range and running water were a +welcome breeze to the drover's sail. + +The first week after the rain only three herds reached the Beaver. Each +foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, but the herds +were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for delivery on army +contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of owners. The usual +flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled and lame saddle stock, +and of useless commissary supplies, was missing, and only the well +wishes of the wayfaring were left to hearten man and boy at the +new ranch. + +The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's herds +passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased to one +hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, while the +commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load being necessary +to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In all, during the week, +fifteen herds passed, only three of which refused the invitation to +call, while one was merely drifting along in search of a range to take +up and locate with a herd of cattle. Its owners, new men in the +occupation, were scouting wide, and when one of them discovered +Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his delight was unbounded, as the +range met every requirement for establishing a ranch. + +The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the source of +the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he rode down the +creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend of the Beaver, was +surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing the value of the range, +Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the first contingent of strays up +the creek, farther and farther, until they were then ranging within a +mile of the grove. The newcomer could hardly control his chagrin, and +as he rode along, scarcely a mile was passed but more cattle were +encountered, and finally the tent and homestead loomed in sight. + +"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the stranger, +as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a homestead, I suppose?" + +Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the latter; +"this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from the trail +crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the trail with +cattle, I reckon?" + +"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the man. +"I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine grove of +timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, we'll move in +within a few days and take possession." + +"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely inquired +Forrest. + +"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have escaped +from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll have them all +rounded up and pushed down the creek." + +Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the arbor and +took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was a picture of +contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, and qualifying his +remarks with rare irony. + +"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and stay for +dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, come to some +friendly understanding." + +"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and will be +anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we don't care to +locate any farther north." + +"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your cattle. You +seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the wounded man. + +"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty of +unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to graze +five thousand cattle." + +"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the Beaver, will +carry ten thousand head the year round," replied Forrest, languidly +indifferent. + +"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer. + +Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You have the +name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some time ago, and +those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. Before you round up +any cattle and drive them out, you had better look into the situation +thoroughly. You surely know and respect range customs." + +"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to hold the +whole country with a handful of cattle." + +"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as fast as +possible," politely replied Forrest. + +"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," authoritatively +asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a thousand cows, and +I've decided on that hackberry grove as headquarters." + +"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like tones. +"Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. Their range +runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the headwaters of +Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you can't stay for dinner, +you'll have time to ride down to the crossing of the Texas and Montana +trail on this creek. There you'll find the posted notice, so that he who +runs may read, that Wells Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll +furnish you a pencil and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the +formal notice and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong +enough to outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. +I've met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet." + +The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see the object +in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a legal question," +said he, mounting. + +"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase of a +herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of beginners +like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance of range is a +good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and sheet of paper." + +"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining away. "I +suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without halting. + +"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," shouted +the crippled Texan. + +Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. The boy +had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession of a range, +and now the envy of others had threatened his interests. + +"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is like a +page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: that you +took your range in good time, and that it has a value. This very +afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to those springs +above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample around the water and +noon in the shade of the motte. That's possession, and possession is +nine points, and the other fellow can have the tenth. If any one wants +to dispute your rights or encroach on them, I'll mount a horse and go to +the trail for help. The Texans are the boys to insist on range customs +being respected. It's time I was riding a little, anyhow." + +Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds due to +reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of the foremen +around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if you want to see +him, you had better come down to the crossing. He knows you, and makes +out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come down, he'll give you a +quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's one of Jess +Pressnell's bosses." + +"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the horses +and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a scaffold to get +me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, because hereafter we +must almost live on horseback." + +The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, returned +to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the Beaver, in +order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its living springs. The +plains of the West were a lawless country, and if its pioneers would not +respect its age-old pastoral customs, then the consequences must be +met or borne. + +Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds were +coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed from the +homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return for a week, +foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and never failing to +levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on cattle, horses, and +needful supplies. As many as five and six herds arrived in a single day, +none of which were allowed to pass without an appeal: if strangers, in +behalf of a hospital; if among friends, the simple facts were +sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with bunches of cattle, or +freighting the caches to the homestead, while Joel received the +different contingents and scouted the threatened range. + +Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell fell +heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a trail +outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, affording each +of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud against the range +lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the Beaver, and Forrest took +particular pains to inform its owners of the whereabouts of unclaimed +range the year before. Evidently the embryo cowmen had taken heed and +inquired into range customs, and were accordingly profuse with +disclaimers of any wrong intent. + +The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of the +Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the trailing of +cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand head having +crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the boys an insight +into pastoral life, brought them in close contact with the men of the +open, drove false ideas from their immature minds, and assisted in the +laying of those early foundations on which their future manhood +must rest. + +Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest slept +with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the best water. +The fact that only experienced men were employed on the trail made the +red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, while the wide +acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad every courtesy of +camp and road. Dell soon learned that the position of point man usually +fell to a veteran of the range, and one whose acquaintance was worthy of +cultivation, both in the saddle and around the camp-fire. + +"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one of their +trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to do, and nearly +always rides with one leg across his horse's neck." + +"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, you'll have +to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in the swing, and +after that you have a right to expect a place on the point. The trouble +is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two at any time. Here I've +been a foreman in other years, and this trip I was glad to make a hand. +There's so many slips, and we can't be all point men and bosses. Cooks +and horse wranglers are also useful men." + +The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared early +during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly healed, and he +was wondering if his employer would make a further claim on his +services during that summer, which was probable at the hands of a drover +with such extensive interests. He and Dell were still patrolling the +ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance from the railroad to the +south drove up to the crossing. It brought a telegram from Don Lovell, +requesting the presence of Forrest in Dodge City, and the messenger, a +liveryman from Buffalo, further assured him that transportation was +awaiting him at that station. There were no grounds on which to refuse +the summons, indefinite and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations +were immediately made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had +been secured during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all +returned to the homestead for the night. + +To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and now +that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was revealed. +As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment when their poverty +had protested at receiving him, his unselfishness in their behalf had +proven his friendship and gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was +not lost on the parentless waifs. + +On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. "Don't +worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and grass +grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've never done +any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out and see if you +lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that I've done any great +feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one of the laws of life, that +often we can do for others what we can't do for ourselves. That sounds +like preaching, but it isn't. Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I +didn't get you double the number of cattle. What we did skirmish +together was merely the flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from +the supper table, and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could +have had just a few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys +being poor and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was +good for a thousand strays and cripples!" + +The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine range. +Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the titles to many +of them were, had been secured and were occupying the valley. A round +dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, but which in time would +round into form, were added to the new ranch. Every passing commissary +had laughed at the chance to discard its plunder and useless staples, +and only the departure of the man behind the venture, standing in the +shadow as it were, threw a depression over the outlook. + +Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with Forrest. The +boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was only with tact and +diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest and embarrassment, was +forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said the departing man, "and it +may come handy with you. There's a long winter ahead, and the fight +ain't near won yet. The first year in starting a ranch is always the +hardest. But if you boys can only hold these cattle until grass comes +again, it's the making of you. You know the boy is father to the man, +and if you are true-blue seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to +the stock." + +Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the railroad +was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a hand, shaking +it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the general advice. "I'll +make Dodge in two days," said the departing guest, "and then I'll know +the meaning of this wire. It means something--that's sure. In the mean +time, sit square in your saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run +riot that you are cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. +That's all until you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. +Adios, señors." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + + +An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few herds +were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate to plead, +all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. Forrest had only +taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all fixtures contributed +for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, including the horses of +his employers. The lads were therefore left an abundance of mounts, all +cattle were drifted above the ranch, and plans for the future +considered. + +Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our saddle +horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after Forrest's +departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will make fodder, but +that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and I know where I can mow +a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have to stable a saddle horse +apiece this winter, and those mules will have to be fed. The grass has +greened up since the rain, and it will be no trick at all to make ten +to fifteen tons of hay. Help me grind the scythe, and we'll put in every +spare hour haying. While you ride around the cattle every morning, I +can mow." + +A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming West, +their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive methods prevailed +on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use a scythe in his haying +operations. Joel swung the blade like a veteran, scattering his swath to +cure in the sun, and with whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. +The raking into windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for +the brothers, no day passing but the cured store was added to, until +sufficient was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried +their mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals. + +"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said Dell, +on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five tons in it. +And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when I've worked so hard +and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan despises any work he can't do on +horseback. But just the same, they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. +Quince could live with us always. He's surely a good forager." + +The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two strangers rode +up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They were made welcome, +and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, in search of pasturage +for a herd of through cattle. There was an open frankness about the +wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of wrong intent, and the +brothers met their inquiries with equal candor. + +"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in kindly +greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the trail +crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless the market +improves, we must secure range for three thousand two-year-old steers. +Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow." + +The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new occupation. +The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the innate kindness of +the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As the evening wore on, +the old sense of dependence brought the lads in closer touch with the +strangers, the conversation running over the mutual field of range and +cattle matters. + +"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are leaving +your State for the upper country?" + +"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. "It's +the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests of our +State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, Texas +clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was limited, the +State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were congesting on our +ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. The subjection of the +Indian was followed by a sudden development of the West, the Texas and +Montana cattle trail opened, and the pastoral resources of our State +surprised the world. Last year we sent eight hundred thousand cattle +over the trail, and they were not missed at home. That's the reason I'm +your guest to-night; range has suddenly become valuable in Texas." + +"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of cattle," +added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding ground, but we +can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty years' experience has +proven that a northern climate is necessary to fatten and bring our +Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two winters in the North will insure a +gain of from three to four hundred pounds' extra weight more per head +than if allowed to reach maturity on their native heath. This gain +fully doubles the value of every hoof, and is a further motive why we +are your guests to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which +to mature our steer cattle." + +The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an asset of +value. Less than two months before, they were on the point of abandoning +their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining life, the stone which +the builders rejected, and now it promised a firm foundation to their +future hopes. The threatened encroachment of a few weeks previous, and +the causes of demand, as explained by their guests, threw a new light on +range values and made the boys doubly cautious. Was there a possible +tide in the primitive range, which taken at its flood would lead these +waifs to fortune? + +The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper valley of +the Beaver. + +"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be understood that +we respect your rights to this range. If we can reach some mutual +agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, but not by any form of +intrusion. We might pool our interests for a period of years, and the +rental would give you lads a good schooling. There are many advantages +that might accrue by pooling our cattle. At least, there is no harm in +looking over the range." + +"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. "None of +our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from there I can +nearly point out the limits of our ranch." + +"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, "but +only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with Mr. +Quince Forrest, now at Dodge." + +"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No one must +take any advantage of you boys." + +The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead the +different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel resumed his +mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses coming down the dim +road which his father used in going to Culbertson. A wagon followed, and +from its general outlines the boy recognized it to be a cow outfit, +heading for their improvements. Hastening homeward, he found Paul +Priest, the gray-haired foreman, who had passed northward nearly two +months before, sitting under the sunshade before the tent. + +"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!" + +No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys had +been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest filled every +want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't bother about getting +any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the creek, and we'll have a +little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in Dodge; old man Don told me he +needed him. Where's your brother?" + +"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted Joel. +"They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement reached must be +made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, you will do just as +well. They'll be in soon." + +"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired foreman. "I'm +jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm a silent partner +in this ranch. How many cattle have you?" + +"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves." + +"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The lazy +wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!" + +"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell and +myself." + +"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a rustler I +am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the wrangler and issue +directions in regard to camping. + +The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse between +Priest and his protégé. For the time being a soldier's introduction +sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came in for a rough caress. "What +do you think of the range?" inquired the trail foreman, turning to the +men, and going direct to the subject. + +"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder cowman, +"and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer." + +"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a jerk of +his thumb toward Priest. + +"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. "My name +is Allen, and this is my son Hugh." + +"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don Lovell," +said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the Texans. + +"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the younger +man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our herd." + +"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his pockets +for a telegram. + +"Comanche." + +"And when did you leave Dodge?" + +"Just ten days ago." + +"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, handing the +older man a telegram. + +The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman continued: +"This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, and we delivered +it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North Platte. From there the main +contractor will trail the beef herd up to the Yellowstone. Old man Don +was present at the delivery, and when I got back to Ogalalla with the +oufit, that message was awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to +receive the cattle. They go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little +Missouri. It says three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, +don't it?" + +"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back." + +The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll have to +declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had several good +offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn of events. I had +figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of this range would +give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you on the eldest +attaining his majority. We could have pooled our cattle, and your +interests would have been carried free." + +"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an air of +interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've known some +mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the owl in their old +McGuffy spelling-book." + +A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a welcome +call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook has orders to +tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner." + +A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," said the +elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company to the +railroad." + +"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. "We're +making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we reach Dodge." + +"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the genial +Texan. + +"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have lived +around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that you simply +can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is the hour for +starting, and I'll overtake you before evening." + +The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having been +excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine condition, +four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the hour named, the +cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. "Angle across the plain +and enter the trail on the divide, between here and the Prairie Dog," +suggested Priest to his men. "We will want to touch here coming back, +and the wagon track will point the way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo." + +Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and means +committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, once the +sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts spirit and courage +into the firing line like knowing that the reserves are strong. It's +going to be no easy task to hold these cattle this winter, and now is +the time to bring up the ammunition and provision the camp. The army +can't march unless the mules are in condition, and you must be well +mounted to handle cattle. Ample provision for your saddle stock is the +first requirement." + +"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll have two +hundred shocks of fodder." + +"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for your +saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, cavalry is +useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers along its line, +coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll make inquiry +to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred bushels of corn +would make the forage reserves ample for the winter." + +"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't want to +take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy." + +"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now comes the +question of corrals and branding." + +"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping at +conclusions. + +"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a blizzard +struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty miles during a +night. These through Texas cattle have been known to drift five hundred +miles during the first winter. You must guard against a winter drift, +and the only way is to hold your cattle under herd. If you boys let +these cattle out of your hand, away from your control, they'll drift +south to the Indian reservations and be lost. You must hold them in +spite of storms, and you will need a big, roomy inclosure in which to +corral the herd at night." + +"There's the corn field," suggested Dell. + +"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect against +the north and west winds." + +"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a perfect +horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the north and +northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose five acres. Our +cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above the house." + +"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising. + +"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle of the +creek," promptly replied Joel. + +"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll have +time to look it over before leaving." + +While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel certain +alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of the addition +of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the necessary posts and +timber before my return, and when we pass north, my outfit will build +you a chute and brand your cattle the same day. Have the materials on +the ground, and I'll bring any needful hardware from the railroad." + +A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The sand-bar was +overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on horseback, but the +leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount through the tangle until +the bend was circled. "It's an ideal winter shelter," said Priest, +dismounting to step the entrance, as a preliminary measurement. "A +hundred and ten yards," he announced, a few minutes later, "coon-skin +measurement. You'll need twenty heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll +bring you a roll of wire. That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills +easily. Given a dry bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd +can laugh at any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing +niggardly about its proportions." + +"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the trio rode +homeward. + +"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw winter's +over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian summer. It might be +as late as the first of December, but it's a good idea to loose-herd +awhile; ride around them evening and morning, corral them and leave the +gates open, teach them to seek a dry, cosy bed, at least a month before +putting the cattle under close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, +and then they'll want to come home. You boys will just about have to +live with your little herd this winter." + +"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we can do it +again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can weather them." + +"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog case; +it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. Lost during +one storm, and your herd is lost for good." + +"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. "Mr. Quince +thought two stabled ones would do the winter herding." + +"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," replied the +cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you spare them. If you +must, miss your own dinner, but see that your horse gets his. Dismount +and strip the bridle off at every chance, and if you guard against +getting caught out in storms, one horse apiece is all you need." + +On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse in +waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit his +visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading his horse +from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and lend a hand in +shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have a herd of his own, +and in that case, there will be two outfits of men. More than likely, +we'll come through together." + +Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around as if +time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary is +provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a winter's +siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute is half +done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. Honest Injun, +I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you out; just to see what +kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if any one else offers to buy +an interest in this range," he called back, as a happy afterthought, +"just tell them that you have all the partners you need." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + + +The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a firing line +of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit and courage of +orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming winter. The elements +have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a conqueror, and an +invincible army has trailed its banners in the snow, unable to cope with +the rigors of the frost king. The lads bent anew to their tasks with a +cheerfulness which made work mere play, sweetening their frugal fare, +and bringing restful sleep. The tie which began in a mercenary agreement +had seemingly broken its bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human +love, a new covenant had been adopted. + +"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next morning, +"holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds them now +without herding." + +[Illustration: JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY] + +"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst possible +winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way to overcome +one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means by bringing up +the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to withstand a +winter siege." + +"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell. + +"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding around the +cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in Hackberry Grove. +Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut them while you're hauling +wood. Remember we must have the materials on the ground when Mr. Paul +returns, to build a corral and branding chute." + +Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. Within a +week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the further supply +of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily noted in its +advancing growth. + +Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was levied on, a +change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt a new impetus by +making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The fuel supply grew, not +to meet a winter's, but a year's requirements. Where strength was +essential, only the best of timber was chosen, and well within the time +limit the materials for corral and branding chute were at hand on the +ground. One task met and mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier. + +"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as the +last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew the plans, +we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, and it won't do +to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar rises in the stock. We +can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul returns." + +Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range to-day," he +announced the following morning. "From here to the ford doesn't matter, +but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We must learn the +location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever cuts us off from the +corrals, we must point the herd for some other port." + +"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell. + +"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through the +sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of dunes." + +That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at the new +ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away with the +rising sun, riding among and counting the different bunches of cattle +encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no details of the +conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up the creek, escape +their vigilance. + +The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed on their +chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the forks of the +Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south branch of the creek +was traced to its source among the sand dunes. If not inviting, the +section proved interesting, with its scraggy plum brush, its unnumbered +hills, and its many depressions, scalloped out of the sandy soil by the +action of winds. Coveys of wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken +took wing on every hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf +arose from a sunny siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed +the air in search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined +in their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and like a +flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother and whelps +skulked and were lost to sight in an instant. + +"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs appeared. +"The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and are still +following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and if this proves +a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our cattle before spring. We +may have more than storms to fight. There they go." + +"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither dog nor +gun." + +"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not bother +us while they can get food elsewhere." + +The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter refuge +to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for a short +gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once the open of +the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the brothers made a +wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite the homestead, near +the middle of the afternoon, they turned and rode directly for the +ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted them. + +Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance revealed +both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up to the stable +corral, in the rough reception which followed, the lads were fairly +dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. "Well, here we are +again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said Priest, once order +was restored. + +"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel. + +"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. About this +time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open with two herds, +each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. I'm coming with some +style this time. You simply can't keep a good man down." + +"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef ranch," +explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and came through +a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have the chute and +corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll lack is the +hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during the afternoon." + +The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the day. Every +old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by twilight the +outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The stable corral was +built out of heavy poles and posts, with a capacity of holding near one +hundred cattle, and by a very slight alteration it could be enlarged, +with branding conveniences added. + +At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys regarding +the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked the matter over +between themselves, and had decided that the simple truth concerning the +facts was the only course to adopt. The older of the two men, by the +consent of years, was delegated to instruct the lads, and when the +question of brands to be adopted by the new ranch was under +consideration, the chance presented itself. + +"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the boys, as +they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have to use two +brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by bill-of-sale. +In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is simply impossible to +keep strays out of moving herds. They come in at night, steal in while a +herd is passing through thickets, while it is watering, and they may not +be noticed for a month. Under all range customs, strays are recognized +as flotsam. Title is impossible, and the best claim is due to the range +that gives them sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the +increase of strays to the range on which they are found, and that will +entitle you to all calves born of stray mothers." + +The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For fear of +winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will run all these +strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be known as the +'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us an asylum for that +branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and owners of the range, all +increase will fall to Wells Brothers. However, in accepting this +deputyship, you do so with the understanding that the brand is merely a +tally-mark, and that in no way does it deprive the owner of coming +forward to prove and take possession of his property. This method +affords a refuge to all strays in your possession, and absolves you from +any evil intent. All other cattle coming under your control, with the +knowledge and consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee +simple, and we will run them into any brand you wish to adopt." + +"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating. + +"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. "The +weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way their +ancestors went. One generation exempts you." + +The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not mentioned +until the following morning. The forces were divided between the tasks, +and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the site of the new corral, +the disclosure was made known. + +"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. "Wolves +act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. Their activity +or presence will warn you of the approach of blizzards, and you want to +take the hint and keep your weather eye open. When other food becomes +scarce, they run in packs and will kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, +as yours will be either under herd or in a corral. Wolves always single +out an animal to attack; they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken +advantage of in their hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly +loves kidney suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, +they can be lured to their own destruction." + +The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. It +was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to a strong +post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together with stays, +admitting of a pliability which served a double purpose. By sinking an +extra post opposite each of the main ones, the flexibility of the gate +also admitted of making a perfect wing, aiding in the entrance or exit +of a herd. In fastening the gate in the centre short ropes were used, +and the wire web drawn taut to the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys +will find this short wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," +assured the old foreman. + +The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. Forrest +took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme upper limits of +the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and turned homeward. The +cattle ranged within a mile or two on either side of the creek, and by +slowly closing in and drifting down the Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch +was brought into a compact herd. There was no hurry, as ample time must +be allowed for the arrival of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in +finishing and making ready the upper corral for its first reception of +cattle. There was a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, +as a surprise for the boys. + +As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch hours in +advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by Priest, and +fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of ropes attached to +the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to the scene of its use at +an easy canter. The stretching of the wire was less than an hour's work, +the slack being taken up by the wranglers, ever upholding Texas +methods, from the pommels of saddles, while Priest clinched the strands +with staples at the proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable +extension of the fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. +"Now, when the stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in +place with staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," +said one of the wranglers admiringly. + +It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after counting +the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel to graze the +herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a mile above, and +taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The trail herds had +purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the Beaver that night, and +were met by their respective foremen while watering for the day. In +receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of one-aged cattle, both foremen, +but more particularly Forrest, in the extra time at his command, had +levied on the flotsam of the herds from which his employer was buying, +until he had accumulated over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, +among a few friends and the few herds with which he came in contact, +scarcely half that number, and still the two contingents made a very +material increase to the new ranch. + +The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. Joel and +Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch stock, and +Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and late contingents as +the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of the boys on the point, +as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it was suddenly confronted by +another contingent, rounding a bend of the creek from the opposite +quarter. Priest had purposely detailed strange men, coached to the point +of blindness, in charge of the new addition, and when the two bunches +threatened to mix, every horseman present except the boys seemed blind +to the situation. + +Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," said +Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own boys to +point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches of cattle +mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!" + +"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," protested +Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and their cattle +walked into ours. Where were you?" + +"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his down on +the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot what we were +doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them now. We'll pen +them until morning." + +The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the strange men +assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the situation to the +crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the gray-haired foreman managed to +drop a word which lightened Dell's depression and cleared up the +supposed error. + +That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped together, +the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the outfits mingled +around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, old songs were sung, +the lusty chorus of which easily reached the night-herders, and was +answered back like a distant refrain. + +The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a wasted step. +Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the foremen and the +boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task before them. The chute +had been ironed and bolted the evening previous, and long before the +early rays of the sun flooded the valley of the Beaver, the first +contingent of cattle arrived from the upper corral. + +The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten grown +cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars fore and +aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail foremen, was quickly +over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen bunches, and before the +noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed under the running irons and +bore the new owner's brand or tally-mark. + +Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the limit of +travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing the railroad a +few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was the railroad depot for +settlers' supplies, and the boys were advised to file their order for +corn, and to advance a liberal payment to insure attention. All details +of the ranch seemed well in hand, the cattle were in good condition to +withstand a winter, and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from +age to youth, the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern +for the future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if +the reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible? + +The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On reaching a +divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse of the Beaver, +the cavalcade halted for a parting look. + +"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the hazy +valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the winter." + +"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as decisive as if +his own flesh and blood had been insulted. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + + +The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the +plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all +bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of +the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from +pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted +of the wormwood in advance of their years. Toys such as other lads +played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and +only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the +struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them. A happy +home they had never known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy +of remembrance was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the +mire of their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss +was realized. + +Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully discussed +the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive to +watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the boys to +battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, and on the +departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of the matter +at issue. + +"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, watching the +receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us several miles out +and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it will be my fault if +it does." + +Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified his gaze +at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful sufferings flashed +through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to tears, dimmed his eyes. He +had learned the lesson that poverty teaches, unaware that the storm +which rocks also roots the oak, but unable to make the comparison or +draw the inference between surrounding nature and himself. For an +instant the horsemen dipped from view, changing the scene, and a picture +rose up, a vision of the future, of independence, of a day when he would +take his place as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its +bridges burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if +encouraged by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley +of the Beaver. + +"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously answering +his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last divide. "Hold +them. I can hold them alone." + +"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his brother +into the tent. "We have provisions for a year." + +"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost hissing the +words--words which became a slogan afterward. + +The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition mixed +and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with its +abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first four +horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at least for the +present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen horses, fully half of +which were fit for saddle, were at the service of the ranch, ample in +number in proportion to the cattle secured. + +It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over two +months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. With no +work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling farther to the west +and south, until any country liable to catch a winter drift became +familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of every drover had ceased, +and the active trail of a month before had been deserted. The new ranch +had no neighbors, the nearest habitation was on the railroad to the +south, and the utter loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active +work. To those who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in +their daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal by +flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, the +cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman. + +The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a welcome +task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance to the saddle +horses, an important feature in withstanding the coming winter siege. An +ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry weather curing the buffalo grass +on the divides, until it was the equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle +of ample grazing until spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl +of snow, a single angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid +Indian summer. Its coming warned the lads; the order for corn was +placed; once a week the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the +ranch was made snug against the wintry months. + +The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree to +deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and an equal +number of round trips would be required to freight the grain from the +railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and sacked at elevator +points, eastward in the State, and in encouraging emigration the +railroad was glad to supply the grain at cost and freightage. + +The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a deposit, and +identification was necessary with the agent. On the very first trip to +Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a surprise awaited the earnest +boy. As if he were a citizen of the hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, +Paul Priest greeted Joel on his arrival. The old foreman had secretly +left a horse with the railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail +crossed, had kept in touch with the delivery of corn at stations +westward, and had timed his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit +to his protégées. + +"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or accident," +said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get damaged, slippery +ground might prevent the placing of a battery at an opportune moment, +or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a courier with an important +order. I feel an interest in your little ranch, and when I know that +everything is done that can be done to fortify against the coming +winter, I'll go home feeling better. There is such a thing as killing +the spirit of a soldier, and if I were to let you boys try and fail, it +would affect your courage to face the future. That's the reason I've +dropped off to take a last look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got +to hold those cattle." + +"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, we're +going to hold the herd," simply said the boy. + +There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad that +pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters on the +range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the worst. But +come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the best fight in us, +and fail, then we are blameless. But with my experience, if I let you +fail, when you might have won, then I have done you an injury." + +That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline on which +their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of no shirking on +the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to a change of clean +saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully understood. The death of +a horse in which reliance rested, at an unfortunate moment, might mean +the loss of the herd, and a clean, warm blanket on a cold day was the +merciful forethought of a man for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen +blanket must be used on the Wells ranch. + +On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was necessary, +at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of its terrors by +the presence of a veteran of the open. Before leaving the depot, Priest +unearthed a number of bundles, "little things that might come in handy," +among which was a sack of salt and two empty oak barrels. The latter +provoked an inquiry from Joel, and an explanation was forced at +the moment. + +"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, and which +was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the boy's query +with a question. + +"A mottled beef, branded 7L?" + +"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding him?" + +"Dell and I thought it was an oversight." + +"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these barrels, +then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has undergone several +Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the governor's cellar won't +have any better corn beef this winter than the Wells ranch. Seven or +eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is an important item in the winter +intrenchments. In fact, it's an asset to any cow camp. There are so many +little things that may come in handy." + +The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a course +that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He had never +been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with a loaded wagon, +he angled away for the sand hills which formed the divide, sloping away +to the branches of the main creek. Noon found him on the south fork; +cattle were encountered near the juncture, and as he approached the +grove, a horseman rode out as if to dispute the passage of an intruder. +The old foreman noticed the boyish figure and delayed the meeting, +reining in to critically examine cattle which he had branded some three +months before. With diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the +wayfarer riding away on a tangent and veering back on his general +course, until Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted. + +"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have made +coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was spending the day +among the cattle." + +"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted Priest; +"that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does that 7L +steer range?" + +"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied the boy, +repeating and answering the question. + +"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman. + +The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour had +brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was overlooked on +the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and the hairy, shaggy, +winter coats of the cattle almost hid the brands, while three to six +months' rest on a perfect range was reflected in the splendid condition +of the general herd. + +"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't worry us," +said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand any +ordinary winter." + +"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range below the +ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. There's the +mottled steer." + +They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said he, +"that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. The adage +is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of intrenchment are +encouraging." + +The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the arrival +of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between the brothers, +the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, there were +sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy felting, flannels over +and under, as if the boys were being outfitted for a polar expedition. +"It may all come in handy," said a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on +sentinel duty ought to be made comfortable. In holding cattle this +winter, it's part of the intrenchments." + +A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel was +away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while those +left behind busied themselves in strengthening the commissary. The +barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding water, knives were +ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling out meat. Dell, on the +tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, wondering how this quiet man +would accomplish his ends, and unable to wholly restrain his curiosity. + +"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably marry young, +and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know how to cure corn +beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the lesson is yours. Watch +me closely." + +The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of the +afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of cattle, +including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down to the +desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to alertness, and when +the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy instinctively knew that a +moment of action was at hand. Without in the least alarming the other +cattle, the cast was made, the loop opened in mid-air, settled around +the horns, cut fast by a jerk of the rope, and the contest between man +and animal began. It was over in a moment. The shade of a willow was the +chosen spot, and as the cattle were freed, the steer turned, the +horseman taking one side of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping +several turns of the rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant +the big fellow quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and +the beef fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in +the shade of the willow. And it was so easily done. + +"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired Texan, +dismounting. "You may bring the knives." + +Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark the beef +was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to drain and +cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of animal heat passed +away, and before sunrise the meat was salted into barrels. Thereafter, +or until it was drained of every animal impurity, the beef was spread on +the platform nightly, the brine boiled and skimmed, until a perfect +pickle was secured. It was a matter of a week's concern, adding to the +commissary two barrels of prime corned beef, an item of no small value +in the line of sustenance. + +The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see what made +the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next morning; "it won't +open for me." + +Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a kite, or +the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval noose, "the same +principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The oval must have a heavy +side, which you get by letting the Hondo run almost halfway round the +loop, or double on one side. Then when you make your cast, the light +side will follow the heavy, and your loop will open. In other words, +what the feather is to the arrow, the light side is to the heavy, and if +you throw with force, the loop must open." + +It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to be a +fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which followed, in the +saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of practicing with a rope, +while the patient man called attention to several wrist movements which +lent assistance in forming a perfect loop. The slightest success was +repeated to perfection; unceasing devotion to a task masters it, and +before the visit ended, the perfect oval poised in the air and the rope +seemingly obeyed the hand of Dell Wells. + +"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle business," +said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. Keep them up +your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own personal use. +These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. When I make up an +outfit for the trail, I never insist on any special attainments. Just so +he's good natured, and no danger of a rainy night dampening the twinkle +in his eye, that's the boy for me. Then if he can think a little, act +quick, clear, and to the point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a +cow in a month." + +In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of annoyance +from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of suet in the +beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, and a full gallon +of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its needs. While Joel was +away after the last load of corn, several dozen wooden holders were +prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk to the depth of five or six +inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, and the troughs charred and +smoked of every trace of human scent. + +That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind that +a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your cunning +against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're dealing with a +crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, surrounding the bait, +every trace of human scent must be avoided. For that reason, you must +handle the holder with a spear or hay fork, and if you have occasion to +dismount, to refill a trough, carry a board to alight on, remembering to +lower and take it up by rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent +of a horse arouses no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it +allays distrust." + +In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned suet. +"After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, illustrating the +process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. An overdose acts as an +emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that reason, you must pack the tallow +in the auger hole, filling from a half to two thirds full. Force Mr. +Wolf to lick it out, administer the poison slowly, and you are sure of +his scalp. You will notice I have bored the hole in solid wood, to +prevent gnawing, and you must pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, +as a crafty wolf will roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. +Keep your holders out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the +loading tools before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves +that may molest your cattle." + +The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. After +the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed every +possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be foreseen, the +only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and barring the burning of +the range from unseen sources, the new ranch stood prepared to withstand +a winter siege. Everything to forefend against a day of stress or trial +had been done, even to instilling courage into youthful hearts. + +"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the practical +man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an unexpected storm. If +a change of weather threatens, point your herd to meet it, and then if +you are caught out, you will have the storm in your back to drift the +cattle home. Shepherds practice that rule, and the same applies to +cattle under herd." + +All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back the +extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession of the +boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final summary of +the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the table, the trail +foreman seemingly reluctant to leave. + +"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying with his +coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping in the winter. +But the next few months you boys must reverse that rule. Not that you +need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your vigilance should never +sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the first and last thought of +the day, and then I'll get my beauty sleep this winter. The unforeseen +may happen; but I want you to remember that when storms howl the +loudest, your Mr. Quince and I will be right around the bend of the +creek, with our ear to the ground, the reserves, listening to the good +fight you boys are making. Of course you could call the reserves, but +you want the glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than show +the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the summer." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + + +The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the harbingers +of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the forthcoming siege. +Great flights of song and game birds, in their migration southward, lent +an accent as they twittered by or honked in mid-air, while scurrying +clouds and squally weather bore witness of approaching winter. + +The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was freed +for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three best +horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from the +railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal freedom must +be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term _close_ herding would +imply grazing the cattle on a section of land, while _loose_ herding +would mean four or five times that acreage. New routes must be taken +daily; the weather would govern the compactness and course of the herd, +while a radius of five miles from the corral was a liberal range. + +The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. Cold was +to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry atmosphere, +there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually the forerunner +of a storm, the approach of which gave little warning, requiring a +sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken unaware or at a disadvantage. + +The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry bed, +and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary to enter +and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, it was a +matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing the herd to +spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as occasion required. In +handling, it was a decided advantage that the little nucleus had known +herd restraint, in trailing overland from Texas, and were obedient, at a +distance of fifty yards, to the slightest whistle or pressure of a +herdsman. Under favorable conditions, the cattle could be depended on to +graze until noon, when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle +homeward was timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The +duties of each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of +the old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task. + +"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said Dell, as +they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. "My horse +never wet a hair to-day." + +"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The first +of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow is only +the beginning of December." + +"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas." + +"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle this +winter. Sit straight in your saddle." + +A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early and +late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each day was +taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it was a daily +occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral and see that all +was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on the part of the boys, +either by whistling or singing, was always given the cattle, and the +customary grunting of the herd answered for its own contentment. A +parting look was given the horses, their forage replenished, and every +comfort looked after to the satisfaction of their masters. By nature, +horses are distant and slow of any expression of friendship; but an +occasional lump of sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present +ration of grain, readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where +they nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders. + +The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the latter to a +prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's favorite, was a +veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under the saddle, restless, +with a knowledge of his work that bordered on the human. Dell favored +Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best point was a perfect rein, and +from experience in roping could halt from any gait on the space of a +blanket. The relay horse was named Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, +Spanish marked in a black stripe down his back, whose limbs were +triple-ringed above the knees, or where the body color merged with the +black of his legs. Their names had followed them from the trail, one of +which was due to color marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's +chestnut was easily traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering +into toes. + +The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was preceded by +an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south wind swept the +range, while at night a halo encircled the moon. + +"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys strolled up to +the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. "There are three +stars inside the circle around the moon. That's one of Granny +Metcalf's signs." + +"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old granny omens +may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold cattle. All +advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle horses and +little sleep." + +The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the bluff bank +which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on the contented +herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie of man and his +beast was accented anew in their youthful hearts. + +"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing down on +the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race in an age so +remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the pyramids of Egypt +were being built, ours was then an ancient occupation. I love to hear +Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!" + +The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to the +westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, each +apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually unerring, and +the boys readily recalled the statement of the old trail foreman, that +the howling of wolves was an omen of a forthcoming storm. + +"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll meet it. +Our course to-morrow will be northwest." + +It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following afternoon, +a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a leaden horizon on +the west and north. The next breeze carried the icy breath of the +northwest, and the cattle turned as a single animal. The alert horsemen +acted on the instant, and began throwing the cattle into a compact herd. +At the time they were fully three miles from the corral, and when less +than halfway home, the storm broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow +accompanied the gale, blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad +held a point of the herd and the raging elements could be depended on to +bring up the rear. + +It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came had been +anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its wrath, dropped +into the valley just above the corral, where the boys doubled on the +outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate turned the wandering herd +into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by the storm, instinctively +followed the leaders, and the gates were closed and roped securely. + +It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. We +corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter drift +means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of to-day's +storm. We must hold nearer the corral." + +The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their horses, safely +reached the stable. A howling night followed; the wind banked the snow +against every obstacle, or filled the depressions, even sifting through +every crack and crevice in the dug-out. The boys and their mounts were +snug within sod walls, the cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, +and the storm wailed its dirges unheeded. + +Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger and +sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily responded +to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, wind-swept of +snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample grazing for the day. +The first storm of the winter had been met, and its one clear lesson +lent a dread to any possible successors. The herd in the grip of a +storm, cut off from the corral, had a new meaning to the embryo cowmen. +The best advice is mere theory until applied, and experience in the +practical things of life is not transferable. + +The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until Christmas +day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that occasion, +expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for the culinary +task, and only requiring his services on corraling the herd at evening. +The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, knew their bed and +water, and on the homeward circle all that was required was to direct +and time the grazing herd. The occasion had been looked forward to, +partly because it was their very own, their first Christmas spread, and +partly on account of some delicacies that their sponsor had forced on +Dell on parting at the railroad, in anticipation of the day. The bounds +of the supper approached a banquet, and the question of appetites to +grace the occasion was settled. + +The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but the +weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on a +northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the time at +which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the sun and dropped +like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds appeared, and before +the herd could be thrown together and started, a hazy, leaden sky shot +up, almost due west, heralding the quarter of the coming storm. The herd +sensed the danger and responded to the efforts of the horsemen; but +before a mile had been covered, it was enveloped in swirling snow and +veering its march with the course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded +the boys as to their direction; they supposed they were pointing the +cattle into the valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on +the onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the corral, +conjecture as to their location became rife. From the moment the storm +struck, both boys had bent every energy to point the herd into the +valley, but when neither slope nor creek was encountered, the fact +asserted itself that they were adrift and at the mercy of the elements. + +"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!" + +"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. "The +creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these leaders into +the valley." + +The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of horses +merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent forged to the +front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. Again and again the +boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of horses, but each effort +was futile, as new leaders stepped into the track of the displaced ones, +and the course of the herd was sullenly maintained. + +The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a crisis +like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing line needed +heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, a rod or two was +the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not trust each other out of +sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet amid all Joel Wells remained +in possession of a stanch heart and an unbewildered mind. "The creek's +to our right," was his battle cry. "Come on; let's turn these lead +cattle once more." + +Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on record, but +at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware that the cattle +were descending a slope--the welcome, southern slope of the Beaver +valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, but the shelter of the +hillside admitted of veering the herd on its course, until the valley +was reached. No knowledge of their location was possible, and all the +brothers could do was to cross to the opposite point, and direct the +herd against the leeward bank of the creek. Every landmark was lost, +with the herd drifting at will. + +The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse neighed, +was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two turned a few rods +aside and halted at their stable door. Even then the boys could scarcely +identify their home quarters, so enveloped was the dug-out in +swirling snow. + +"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no halting +these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the left. Come on; +we must try and hold the herd." + +The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, when the +boys resumed their positions on the point and front. Allowing the cattle +to move, assured a compact herd, as on every attempt to halt or turn it, +the rear forged to the front and furnished new leaders, and in unity lay +a hope of holding the drifting cattle. + +The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. The +banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these meanderings of +the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the sheltering cut-bank that +he hoped to reach, where refuge might be secured against the raging +elements. It lay several miles below the homestead, and if the drifting +herd reached the bend before darkness, there was a fighting chance to +halt the cattle in a protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than +the one in which the corral was built, and if a successful entrance +could only be effected--but that was the point. + +"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during a lull, +"and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd on a direct +angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers to the north, it +will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to shelter the cattle this +side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that entrance, or abandon the herd, +and run the chance of overtaking it." + +"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day we +branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute." + +"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail men." + +"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they don't +know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. Remember that +story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing himself across a +gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump over him? You could do +that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me rush them." + +It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The meanderings of the +creek were not even recognizable, and only an occasional willow could be +identified, indicating the location of the present drift. Occasionally +the storm thickened or lulled, rendering it impossible to measure the +passing time, and the dread of nightfall was intensified. Under such +stress, the human mind becomes intensely alert, and every word of +warning, every line of advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came +back in their hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress +parade, with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of +their own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand waved +lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground. + +A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near the +entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving the cattle +from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the cripples. The tree +grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon trail passed under it, +making it a favorite halting place when freighting in supplies. Dell +remembered its shade, and taking the lead, groped forward in search of +the silent sentinel which stood guard at the gateway of the cove. It was +their one hope, and by zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a +road, the entrance to the nook might be identified. + +The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle sheltered +in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the density of the +herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, southern bred and +unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their heads to the knee, +indicating, with the closing day, a falling temperature. Suddenly, and +as clear as the crack of a rifle, the voice of Dell Wells was heard in +the lead:-- + +"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is won or +lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come quick!" + +The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the day. +Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry wolves at +the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into the eye of the +storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill the drifting herd, +new leaders forged to the front and threatened to carry the drift past +the entrance to the pocket. The critical moment had arrived. +Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell rushed on the volunteer +leaders, batting them over the heads, until they whirled into the +angling column, awakened from their stupor and panic-stricken from the +assault of a boy, who attacked with the ferocity of a fiend, hissing +like an adder or crying in the eerie shrill of a hyena in the same +breath. It worked like a charm! Its secret lay in the mastery of the +human over all things created. Elated by his success, Dell stripped his +coat, and with a harmless weapon in each hand, assaulted every +contingent of new leaders, striking right and left, throwing his weight +against their bodies, and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them +into obedience. + +Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in line, +and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the bend was +reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his stable, and no +sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering nook, than their +voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back through the column for the +first time since the storm struck. Turning to the support of Dell, the +older boy lent his assistance, forcing the angle, until the drag end of +the column had passed into the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and +to Dell's courage, in the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human +is so wondrously constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one +of these brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring of +one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and strength, +and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to the +contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, and by +merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied onrush of three +thousand beeves. + +Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth across +the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an endless +merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, lowing for mates +and cronies, while above howled the elements with unrelenting fury. + +"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for the +night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if we +could start a fire." + +"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some wood," +said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail of the +cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire was soon +crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was found below +the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire threw its shadows +over the nook. + +A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The sentinel beat +was paced in watches between the boys, the width of the gateway being +about two hundred yards. There was no abatement of the storm, and it was +hours before all the cattle bedded down. The welfare of the horses was +the main concern, and the possibility of reaching home before morning +was freely discussed. The instinct of the horses could be relied on to +find the way to their stable, but return would be impossible before +daybreak. The brothers were so elated over holding the cattle that any +personal hardship was endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the +elements was noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse +and rode out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning +announced that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach +home was safe. + +Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to sleep out +the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses were given free +rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid galloping home. The snow +crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted their protest at hindrance, +vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the riders to the marrow, but on +approaching the homestead the reins were shaken out and the horses +dashed up to the stable door. + +"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted. + +"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the star as he +swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our Christmas supper +in October." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GOOD FIGHTING + + +Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had freshened +horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the horses warmed to +the work, and covered the two miles to the bend before the sun even +streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle around the entrance to the +cove, in search of cattle tracks in the snow, and on finding that none +had offered to leave their shelter, joined his brother at the rekindled +fire under the cliff. The cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy +snow underneath having melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the +diversity of colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with +the surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like window +glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, sheening the +furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise inflicting no harm. + +The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the interim of +waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were able to get an +outline on the drift of the day previous. Both agreed that the herd was +fully five miles from the corral when the storm struck, and as it +dropped into the valley near the improvements (added to their present +location), it had drifted fully eight miles in something like +five hours. + +"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he hovered +over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be on the +Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for breakfast. +Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect day, and within +thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all easy to figure out in +advance, but storms don't come by programme. The only way to hold cattle +on these plains in the winter is to put your trust in corn-fed saddle +horses, and do your sleeping in the summer." + +"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell. + +"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days and +never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at night to +figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them up the divide." + +The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the cattle +preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around in bunches +until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent them forth. In +spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the divides and +wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle fell to feeding +so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, and a dinner for boy +and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the valley the snow lay in +drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides and southern slopes, they +were grazed to contentment and entered their own corral at the customary +hour for penning. Old axes had been left at hand, and the first cutting +of ice, to open the water for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an +hour, after which they rode home to a well-earned rest. + +Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as rainbows and +stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each morning, after which +the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a general thaw and warm +winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It was a welcome relief; the +cattle recovered rapidly, the horses proved their mettle, while the boys +came out more than victors. They were inuring rapidly to their new +occupation; every experience was an asset in meeting the next one, +while their general fibre was absorbing strength from the wintry trial +on the immutable plain. + +Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the evening of +the second day, a band of three made its appearance, keeping in the +distance, and following up the herd until it was corraled at the regular +hour. While opening the ice, the boys had turned their horses loose +among the cattle, and on leading them out of the corral, the trio of +prowlers had crept up within a hundred yards. With a yell, the boys +mounted and made a single dash at them, when the wolves turned, and in +their hurried departure fairly threw up a cloud of snow. + +"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, 'running like a +scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old Rowdy. + +"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, throwing +his mount back on his haunches in halting. + +"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll look +for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were beauties! +How I would like to have one of their hides for a foot-rug!" + +"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand hills," +said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger would make +them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all three!" + +Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his mind to +visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The wolves had +located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the boys were aware +of the presence of an enemy. + +A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. No +tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing weather +temporarily released the range from the present wintry grip. A fortnight +of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and frosty nights, ushering +in a general blizzard, which swept the plains from the British +possessions to the Rio Grande, and left death and desolation in its +pathway. Fortunately its harbingers threw its menace far in advance, +affording the brothers ample time to reach the corral, which they did at +a late evening hour. The day had been balmy and warm, the cattle came +in, gorged from a wide circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as +if instinctive of the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even +kicking up their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to +reach headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would +strike or pass away in blustering threats. + +It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a foot had +fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, howling as if +all the demons of night and storm were holding high carnival. Towards +morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, something unknown before, +and awoke the boys, shivering in their blankets. It was near their hour +for rising, and once a roaring fire warmed up the interior of the room, +Joel took a peep without, but closed the door with a shudder. + +"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. "This is +a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I doubt if we can +reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor cattle--" + +The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, well in +advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed the saddle +stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself against the elements +without, he announced himself as ready for the dash. It was less than a +dozen rods between shack and stable, and setting a tallow dip in the +window for a beacon, he threw open the door and sprang out. He possessed +a courage which had heretofore laughed at storms, but within a few +seconds after leaving the room, he burst open the door and fell on +the bed. + +"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a blanket over +my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll come around in a +little while." + +Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than inflamed eyes +and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made to succor the +horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing themselves together with +a long rope, and reached the stable in safety. On returning, Dell was +thrown several times by the buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, +following the rope, the dug-out was safely reached. + +"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once the +shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, lost my +bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes filled +with snow." + +[Illustration: DELL WELLS] + +There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was impossible to +succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach the corral, which +was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of the creek was known, and +by hugging the leeward bank some little protection would be afforded and +the stream would lead to the cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, +there was a noticeable abatement in the swirling snow, when the +horses were blanketed to the limit and an effort made to reach the +corral. By riding bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, +at least allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys +lost their course. + +The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the creek on a +direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or dismounting and +trampling them out until a pathway was made. Several times they were +able to make a short dash between known points, and by hugging the +sheltering bank of the creek, safely reached the corral. The cattle were +slowly milling about, not from any excitement, the exercise being merely +voluntary and affording warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, +the cattle crowding around each opening and drinking to their +contentment. An immense comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the +bend, in places thirty feet high and perpendicular, while in others it +concaved away into recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a +window. It was formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, +while the present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque background +to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of swan's-down. + +The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered the +herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the cattle, given +them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only food was lacking in +the present trial. After rendering every assistance possible, the boys +remained at the corral, hoping the sun would burst forth at evening, +only to meet disappointment, when their horses were given free rein and +carried them home in a short, sure dash. + +A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there was little +or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the cattle were taken +out and given every possible chance. The first noticeable abatement of +the storm was at evening of the third day, followed by a diminishing +fourth, when for the first time the herd was grazed to surfeiting. The +weather gradually faired off, the cattle were recovering their old form, +when a freak of winter occurred. A week from the night the blizzard +swept down from the north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising +thawing weather as a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came +with a heavy snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a +freezing night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and +hill and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice. + +It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The emergency +admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles as do horses +and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must come in the form +of human assistance. Even the horses were helpless, as the snow was too +deep under the sleet, and any attempt to trample out pathways would have +left the winter mounts bleeding and crippled. The emergency demanded +men, but two boys came to the front in a resourceful manner. In their +old home in Ohio, threshing flails were sometimes used, and within an +hour after daybreak Joel Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a +trail through the sleet to the corral. + +The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it with the +cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be broken out. +Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell at the task as if +it had been a threshing floor, and their flails rang out from contact +with the icy sleet. By the time they had reached the divide it was high +noon, and the boys were wearied by the morning task. The crusted snow +lay fully six inches deep on an average, and if sustenance was rendered +the cattle, whose hungry lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy +crust must be broken over the feeding grounds. + +It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few acres," said +Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the cattle. Point them up +the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and come on ahead of the herd. +If we can break out a hundred acres, even, the cattle can nose around +and get down to the grass. It's our one hope." + +The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking out the +shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the feeding +herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. Fortunately +the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary assistance could be +rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would bare the ground on +southern slopes and around broken places, affording ample grazing. The +flails rung until sunset, the sleet was shattered by acres, and the +cattle led home, if not sufficiently grazed, at least with +hunger stayed. + +An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered where +falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the corrals at +an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The cattle were +aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while outside the +inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf tracks. The herd, +already weakened by the severity of the winter, had been held under a +nervous strain for unknown hours, or until its assailants had departed +with the dawn. The pendulum had swung to an evil extreme; the sleet +afforded splendid footing to the wolves and denied the cattle their +daily food. + +"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up the +situation. + +"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a dose of +poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be placed near +running water--those were the orders. We've got five hundred cattle here +to succor first. Open the gates." + +The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The sun +scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were beaten +out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the afternoon +fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to feast to its +heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired out the cattle, and +it was with difficulty that they were prevented from lying down in +preference to grazing. On such occasions, the boys threw aside their +flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused the exhausted animals, +shifting them to better grazing and holding them on their feet. + +"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," said Joel, +as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something must be done. Rest +seems as needful as food. This is worse than any storm yet. Half of them +are lying down already. We must build a bonfire to-night. Wolves are +afraid of a fire." + +Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or having eaten +snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the herd was alarming, +not from want of food, but from the hungry prowlers of the night. Before +leaving, the brothers built a little fire outside the gate, as best they +could from the fuel at hand, expecting to return later and replenish the +wood supply from headquarters. + +The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses were fed +and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry logs, and +from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the corral opening. It +was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, and the light of the +bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy shadows on the combing +snow which formed the upper rim. The night was crimping cold, and at a +late hour the boys replenished the fire and returned home. But as they +dismounted at the stable, the hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down +the valley on the frosty air, and answered by a band far to the south in +the sand hills. + +"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for the +distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a distance +until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in for the night." + +Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, but on +every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the night was to +be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the remainder, +principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, fronting one of +the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On riding within the corral, +the dread of the excited cows proved to be a monster wolf, crouching on +a shelf of snow. He arose on his haunches and faced the horsemen, +revealing his fangs, while his breast was covered with tiny icicles, +caused by the driveling slaver during the night's run. His weight was +responsible for his present plight, he having ventured out on the +fragile comb of snow above, causing it to cave down; and in the +bewilderment of the moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on +which he then rested. + +It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and answers +passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was in hand, the +horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, and yet the boys +were powerless to make the kill. The situation was tantalizing. + +"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the moment. + +"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it." + +"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility. + +"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the risk of +a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't dismount +within twenty feet of him for this herd." + +"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which Mr. Paul +killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof." + +"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf go--we +can't make the kill." + +"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a roping +horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll lasso that +wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre gatepost and you +can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going to rope a wolf from +your back," added Dell, patting the horse's neck and turning back to the +gate. "Show me the mettle of the State that bred you." + +"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. Whatever +happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to a pinch. I'll +get a fence-stay." + +Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently practiced with a +rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and the danger of the +present moment surely admitted of no false calculations. Dell dismounted +with a splendid assurance, tightened the cinches, tied his rope good and +firm to the fork of the saddle tree, mounted, and announced himself as +ready. The cattle were drifted left and right, opening a lane across the +corral, and Dell rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a +position at the gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the +working out of the experiment. + +The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell rode +carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each time, +whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal arose in an +attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment had come, as the +horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, the singing noose shot +out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the next instant Dog-toe +whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a blur behind as he shot +across the corral. Only his rider had seen the noose fall true, the taut +rope bespoke its own burden, and there was no time to shout. For an +instant, Joel held his breath, only catching a swerve in the oncoming +horse, whose rider bore down on the centre post of the double gate, the +deviation of course being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The +horse flashed through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in +air, and a dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The +blur passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death. + +Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a foot's +length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle tree, and thus +saved horse and rider from an ugly fall. + +"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," said +Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do you want +his hide, or can I have it?" + +"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. I'll have +to sit up with you to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOLDING THE FORT + + +The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny slopes, +the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under cover of ice +and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for the time being and +closing over when not in use. + +The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the brothers was to +open more grazing ground, and to that end every energy was bent. The +range already opened lay to the north of the Beaver, and although double +the distance, an effort was made to break out a trail to the divide on +the south. The herd was turned up the lane for the day, and taking their +flails, the boys began an attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as +it was fully two miles to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected +by the sun before high noon. + +The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were brought +forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and assisting in +breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet in width on an +average, and by early noon the divide was reached. Several thousand +acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and depressions running +north and south across the watershed, new grazing grounds could be +added daily. + +A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been brought +along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the divide, the sun +had softened the crust until it would break under the weight of either +of the boys. By walking well outside the trail, the sleet crushed to the +extent of five or six feet, and by leading their horses, the pathway was +easily doubled in width. Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, +easing from the frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of +thawing weather. + +"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly freeze a +shoal, and I've found one below the corral." + +"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, "but we +must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment the cattle quit +drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is regular old +Billy Winter." + +"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the younger boy. +"Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water won't freeze." + +"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for to-night," +said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter for the present. + +On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the splendid +trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known shallow in the +creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, and forcing his +horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a riplet was unearthed +as it purled from under an earthen bank. + +"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins and +allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for yourself." + +Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, after +emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed under +another arch, its motion preventing freezing. + +"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the horses +break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. We'll build +another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits around this +open water." + +The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in home. +Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of the wooden +troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the basins were +handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and dropped from +horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure that the poison would +be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass and a scented trace was made +from every quarter, converging at the open water and tempting baits. + +"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't get a +wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done." + +"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, under the +comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking each other's +bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except poisoned suet." + +The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought in to +the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight of the +cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of wolves was at +once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the lads arrived in +time to save the life of a young steer. The animal had grazed beyond the +limits of the herd, unconscious of the presence of a lurking band of +wolves, until attacked by the hungry pack. Nothing but the energetic use +of his horns saved his life, as he dared not run for fear of being +dragged down, and could only stand and fight. + +The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the steer's +rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter of hoofs, +they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly forsook their +victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by easy count, as they +halted within two hundred yards and lay down, lolling their tongues as +if they expected to return and renew the attack. + +"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as the +brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!" + +"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it impossible to get +food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the cattle hereafter." + +"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said Dell. +"That's not a bad beginning." + +"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month longer, +some of these cattle will feed the wolves." + +There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was turned into +the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a distance, the wolves +followed, peeping over the divide as the herd turned down the pathway +leading to the corral. Fuel had been sledded up, and after attending to +the details of water and fire, the boys hurried home. + +The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of the +morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest change was +noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the blizzard, every +moderation of the temperature brought more snow or sleet. Unless a +general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any change in the weather +was undesirable. + +A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the boys +replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination covered the +limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of the poison for +the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary to the Beaver, +counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. Day was breaking, +the horses were already fed, and he was impatient for saddles and away. + +"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the stable. + +"One," answered Joel. + +"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight." + +"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your estimate. +Leave a few for luck." + +Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the chickens. +Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between house and +corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive brother, +together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed him--not a dead +wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. Some of the troughs +had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the auger holes, while the snow was littered with +wolf tracks. + +"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed the scene +and empty basins. + +Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for the number +of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the tallow. That's it; +there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste in each one's mouth. From +the looks of the ground, there might have been fifty wolves." + +The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The brothers awoke +to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and men the unforeseen +is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay down the general rule, +and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No one could foresee that the +grip of winter would concentrate and bring down on the little herd the +hungry, roving wolf packs. + +"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out more +running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make new ones, +and to-night we'll put out fifty baits." + +The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. Joel +took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows tributary +to the corral. Three more were found within easy distance, when the +troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and taken home to be refilled. +It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning and caution were his helpers; +slighting nothing, ever crafty on the side of safety, he cut, bored, and +charred new basins, to double the original number. After loading, for +fear of any human taint, he dipped the troughs in water and laid them in +the shade to freeze. A second trip with the sled was required to +transport the basins up to the corral, the day's work being barely +finished in time for him to assist in penning the herd. + +"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail. + +"Sixty odd." + +"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all the +afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards of the +cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty." + +"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to do +that until after the cattle were corraled." + +The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which would die +out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the cattle time to bed +down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was not the intention of the +boys to return, and as they mounted their horses to leave, all the +welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst forth. + +"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a gesture +which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and the feast is +ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or do you prefer the +scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, juicy kidney suet in the +ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, with fresh water right at hand. +Now, have pallets and enjoy yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, +and be merry, for to-morrow your pelts are mine." + +"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel. + +"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. "I'll +carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin peddler." + +"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished his +brother. "You're only entitled to one guess." + +"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered Dell with +emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy me." + +A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast was +forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as they +covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of expectation. +Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, on rounding a +curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost unhorsing his rider. + +"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll point them +out and you count. There's another! There's two more!" + +It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead wolves lay +around every open water. Some barely turned from the creek and fell, +others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly wandered away for +short distances. The poison had worked to a nicety; when the victims +were collected, by actual count they numbered twenty-eight. It was a +victory to justify shouting, but the gruesome sight awed the brothers +into silence. Hunger had driven the enemy to their own death, and the +triumph of the moment at least touched one sensitive heart. + +"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued voice, +after surveying the ravages of poison. + +"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're soldiering this +winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What would Mr. Paul say if +we let the wolves kill our cattle?" + +After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, leaving Dell +at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, revealing the fact +that every trace of the poisoned suet had been licked out of the +holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf became the slogan of the +present campaign. No mushy sentiment was admissible--the fighting was +not over, and the powder must be kept dry. The troughs were accordingly +sledded into the corral, where any taint from the cattle would further +disarm suspicion, and left for future use. + +The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a boy. +But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which Forrest, when a +cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of winter-killed cattle +with a team. The same principle applied in pelting a wolf, where by very +little aid of a knife, about the head and legs, a horse could do the +work of a dozen men. The corral fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, +Dog-toe could pull his own weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and +theory, when reduced to the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head +once bared, the carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a +gentle pull from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a +second pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady +mounting and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, +and with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry. + +Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs had +evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as there +was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or attitude. + +"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in Nebraska and +the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in explanation. "Rabbits and +other rodents are at home under this sleet, and what is there to live +on but stock? You have to hold the cattle under the closest possible +herd to avoid attack." + +"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly declared Dell. +"Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the wolves lick the bones of +their brethren to-night, and to-morrow I'll spread another banquet." + +The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall that +night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but every +additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until it appeared +an open question whether they would fall a prey to the wolves or succumb +to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed the local storm, during +which three head of cattle, cripples which had not fully recuperated, in +the daily march to the divides fell in the struggle for sustenance and +fed the wintry scavengers. It was a repetition of the age-old struggle +for existence--the clash between the forces of good and evil, with the +wolf in the ascendant. + +The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one wolves fell +in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, not an eye for +an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out looked like a +trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every trace of sentiment +for the enemy, in the wintry trial which followed, died out in the +hearts of the boys. + +Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves against +the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless vigilance and +sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by fire and poison, +alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle fall to feed the +wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to the struggling boys. + +A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One morning +near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the corral at an +early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a light kill of +wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they were attempting to +make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a wolf, supposed to be +poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, snapping left and right +before falling to the ground. Nothing but the agility of Rowdy saved +himself or rider, who was nearly unhorsed, from being maimed or killed +from the vicious, instant assault. + +The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to the +color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell shook +out his rope. + +"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a mad wolf, +or else it's dying." + +"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on his +flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just that +position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death." + +But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the victim, +and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and revealing +fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the wolf ran +aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck a strand of +wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw the animal flat, +when it again curled its head backward and lay quiet. + +"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it gets into +that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a live horse +under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's neck by a +hand-breadth." + +The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored approach. +Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as the rope +settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope was cautiously +wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, and whirling +Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane leading to the +herd's feeding ground to the south. The first quarter of a mile was an +indistinct blur, out of which a horse might be seen, then a boy, or a +wolf arose on wings and soared for an instant. Suddenly the horse +doubled back over the lane, and as his rider shot past Joel, a fire of +requests was vaguely heard, regarding "a noose that had settled foul," +of "a rope that was being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle +a wolf. + +Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened around the +wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a few effectual +snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. Shaking out a loop +in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the other trail, Rowdy +carried his rider within easy casting distance, the lasso hissed through +the air, settled true, when two cow-horses threw their weight against +each other, and the wolf's neck was broken as easily as a rotten thread. + +"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the safety of +his saddle. + +"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and kicked +the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, it was +thirty feet!" + +In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range cattle +history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal trial in the +lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three days, after the +worst blizzard in the history of the range industry, the siege was +lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her gladness. Sleet cracks ran +for miles, every pool in the creek threw off its icy gorge, and the +plain again smiled within her own limits. Had the brothers been thorough +plainsmen, they could have foretold the coming thaw, as three days +before its harbingers reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of +poison, but instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, +not to return the remainder of the winter. + +"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said Joel to +his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring down a wolf. + +"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost twelve +cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll play that game +all winter." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WINTER DRIFT + + +The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry siege. If it +could be weathered, victory would crown the first good fight of the +boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle and fortifying +against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot with the plains, +the occupation had almost forced itself on them, and having tasted the +spice of battle, they buckled on their armor and rode forth. Without +struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures of life lose their nectar. + +The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had gradually +weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the elements, and +steps must be taken to recuperate the herd. + +"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the thawing +weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. Unless the +wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again." + +Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen to the +creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the herd any +longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle winter-killed! Every +day during the last month I felt that another week of winter would take +half the herd. It was good fighting, and I feel like shouting." + +"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides that +weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them all the +range they need and only put them under close-herd at night. There may +be squally weather yet, but little danger of a general storm. After this +thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin their spring ploughing." + +A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost absolute +freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only thrown together +at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed entirely by day, a mile +square of dry slope was considered compact enough for the night. The +extra horses, which had ranged for the winter around Hackberry Grove, +were seen only occasionally and their condition noted. The winter had +haired them like llamas, the sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse +paws to the grass, and any concern for the outside saddle stock +was needless. + +The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious to +know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his brother +for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire. + +"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted yet. I'm +not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure first." + +"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the younger +boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from them at +Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell them that +we've won the fight. The spring's here." + +"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will keep, and +we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you remember the old +weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion and going out like a +lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had better keep an eye on it +for fear it goes out like a lion. You can go to the railroad in April." + +There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no response +in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and refused to +come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the shrub and +willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs of spring +carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet arise and roar +like a young lion. + +The one advantage of the passing days was the general improvement in the +herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the buffalo grass, which +grew on the slopes and divides, and with three weeks of fair weather and +full freedom the herd as a whole rounded into form, reflecting its +tenacity of life and the able handling of its owners. + +Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, along +the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck near the +middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and found the cattle +scattered to the limits of loose herding, but under the eyes of two +alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the task, circling the herd on +different sides, but before it could be thrown into mobile form and +pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl of soft snow enveloped horses +and riders, cattle and landscape. The herd turned its back to the storm, +and took up the steady, sullen march of a winter drift. Cut off from the +corral by fully five miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and +the brothers rode to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle. + +"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell. + +"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, "nothing short +of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the cattle. We're out until +this storm spends its force." + +"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and the +wolves are gone." + +"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, we'll +miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a question of +horseflesh." + +"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse and +overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the storm." + +"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these cattle +through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a spring squall." + +The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the cattle +turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the compass was +lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm would hold a true +course until its wrath was spent, and relying on that slender thread, +the boys attempted to veer the herd for the sand hills. By nature cattle +are none too gregarious, as only under fear will they flock compactly, +and the danger of splitting the herd into wandering contingents must be +avoided. On the march which lay before it, its compactness must be +maintained, and to turn half the herd into the sand dunes and let the +remainder wander adrift was out of the question. + +"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The cattle +are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be cutting them +to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead unless the swing cattle +will follow. It's better to drift until the storm breaks than to split +the herd into little bunches." + +"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the leaders +ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in line." + +An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly made. +But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut the cattle to +the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, the brothers chose +to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the sand hills. + +"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated efforts. "Turn +the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An hour of this wind +would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or die." + +"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," suggested +Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after a pack horse. +We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn this herd." + +The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily keep in +a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he reported the +drifting column less than a quarter mile in length. + +"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can barely hold +their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas drift, they +fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day they act like +lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet." + +The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for man and +horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver before +nightfall. + +"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut it +quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that Dog-toe +has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, until he +just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind and snow." + +"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one hundred +yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country looks alike. +Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above or below +headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you ought to +recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll take you +straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, some bread and +meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour before daybreak, and +you'll find me in the lead of the herd." + +The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in their +lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar that +sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was always the +hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle would gladly halt +and bed down, which promise lightened the passing time. The work was +easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of the leaders, that the rear +might easily follow, was the task of the night or until relieved. + +On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure in his +ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul weather, he had +barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver when darkness fell. The +horse was easily quartering the storm, but the pelting snow in the boy's +face led him to rein his mount from a true course, with the result that +several miles was ridden without reaching any recognizable landmark. A +ravine or dry wash was finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a +matter of precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and allowed +his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the eye of the +storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason was abandoned +and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the confident boy mounted +his horse and took up his former course, almost crossing the line of +storm on a right angle. A thousand visible forms, creatures of the night +and storm, took shape in the bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after +dismounting and mounting unknown times, he floundered across Beaver +Creek fully three miles below headquarters. + +The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to his +horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and champing the +bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a burning match revealed +the outlines of a road under the soft snow. The horse was given rein +again and took the road like a hound, finally sweeping under a tree, +when another halt was made. It was the hackberry at the mouth of the +cove, its broken twigs bespoke a fire which Dell had built, and yet the +mute witness tree and impatient horse were doubted. And not until +Dog-toe halted at the stable door was the boy convinced of his error. + +"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot more +than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled with me +like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if he'll forgive +me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable door. + +The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you shall +have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if you'll just +forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night will never be +forgotten." + +It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even though +the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its cost. Before +offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles that were to make up +the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm forward an hour, and sought +his blankets for a short rest. Several times the howling of the wind +awoke him, and unable to sleep out the night, he arose and built a fire. +The necessity of a pack saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting +a blanket, at the appointed hour before dawn he started, with three +days' rations for man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw +March wind blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he +reached the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the course +of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the mushy snow. A +bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo wallow; three +others were passed, feeding with the wind, and finally the sun burst +forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie Dog. + +Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, sustenance was +following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened in the snow, narrowed +and broadened, and near the middle of the forenoon the scattered herd +was sighted. The long yell of warning was answered only by a tiny +smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek bed, and before Joel was aware +of his presence, Dell rode up to the very bank under which the fire +was burning. + +"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do snowballs +taste for breakfast?" + +"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope this +is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any romance in it." + +The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of yourself," urged +Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How did you make out during +the night?" + +"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my medicine," +replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I sang. You have no +idea how good company cattle are. One big steer laid his ear in Rowdy's +flank to warm it. I took him by the horn any number of times and woke +him up; he was just staggering along asleep. I talked to all the lead +cattle, named them after boys we knew at school, and sometimes they +would look up when I called to them. And the queerest thing happened! +You remember old Redman, our teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last +night. There was a black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and +every time I looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, +his pug nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen +drift, to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me a +score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's face +and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black steer +dropped back and never came to the lead again." + +"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted by his +own experience. + +"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might get lost, +but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, and the cattle +were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I got my bearings, +Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the drift." + +A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, the +horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on the return. +During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the stragglers, and +towards evening all the cattle were put under loose herd and pointed +north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a comfortable camp was made +under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank +stalks of the wild sunflower made a good substitute for fuel, and night +settled over human and animal in the full enjoyment of every comfort. + +It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of pack +horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an easy berth +on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of the horse's body +girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and the corn and blankets +laid within the pack and all lashed securely. The commissary supplies +being light, saddle pockets and cantle strings were found sufficient for +their transportation. + +The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several miles +the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would require +nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, nothing like a +compact herd or driving was permissible, and the cattle were allowed to +feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed along the flank, the boys +walked as a relief, and near evening or on sighting the dunes, Dell took +the pack horse and rode for their shelter, to locate a night camp. The +herd never swerved from its course, and after sunset Joel rounded the +cattle into compact form and bedded them down for the night. A beacon +fire of plum brush led him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where +supper awaited the brothers. + +"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, "that +the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had to build +fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail men, could +we do it?" + +"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You seem to +forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. Be grateful. +Thank the wolf and go to sleep." + +"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I wish Mr. +Paul could see it." + +"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many rousing +fires." + +Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, the +sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all was quiet. + +"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell at +daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the first time +we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into three good +feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have the whole +hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of this camp, all +worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. So long as we hold +the cattle, who cares for expense." + +The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring day lent +its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the afternoon the +watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope clown to the Beaver +was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks turned in, the rear +pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd found expression in loud +and continued lowing. + +"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being killed," +observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after a pack horse, +these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure that we would lose a +hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof." + +"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I fully +expected to see our back track strung with dead animals." + +The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. Little +wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's experience, +failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, similar to the one +which provoked the observation of the brothers, may explain those placid +depths, the deep tenacity and latent power of the herd. + +After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive freighting +outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred oxen were +employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were encountered, the wagons +were loaded beyond the strength of the teams, and the oxen had arrived +at the fort exhausted, spiritless, and faint to falling under their +yokes. Many oxen had been abandoned as useless within one hundred miles +of the post, thus doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, +these scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the wagon +train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of all the oxen +were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. One day a boy +blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and charged among his +fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to powder! The loose oxen +broke from the herders, tore past the column of wagons, frenzied in +voice and action. The drivers lost control of their teams, bedlam +reigned, and the entire wagon train joined in the general stampede. +Wagons were overturned and reduced to kindling in a moment of the +wildest panic. The drivers were glad to escape with their lives and were +left at the rear. A cloud of dust merely marked the direction which the +oxen had taken. The teams, six to eight yoke each, wrenched their +chains, broke the bows, and joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, +still under yoke, were found the next day fifteen miles distant from the +scene of the incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a +month previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that the +spirit of their teams was killed. + +When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward and given +its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy gradually crept far to +the lead, and as the brothers left the cattle and bore off homeward, the +horse took up a gentle trot, maintaining his lead until the stable +was reached. + +"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. "That +horse knows more than some folks." + +"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his horse's +neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it myself some +day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of myself." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A WELCOME GUEST + + +The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was ushered in +to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the pollen on the +willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed underfoot, and the creek +purled and sang as it hastened along. The cattle played, calves were +born, while the horses, in shedding their winter coats, matted the +saddle blankets and threw off great tufts of hair where they rolled on +the ground. + +The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon returning +far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted Joel, on +coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price for a few +weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. The storekeeper +was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a hundred dollars on the +shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from two to two dollars and a +half. And I have a letter from Forrest. The long winter's over! You can +shout! G'long, mules!" + +During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. "Keep +busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water supply and +plan to acquire more cattle." + +"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams between here +and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, and he'll explain +things when he comes. Once a week will be often enough to ride around +the cattle." + +An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. The +garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired around +the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites for two +other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was ample to fill +large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for use during the dry +summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of the ranch could be +greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around headquarters had withstood +every drouth, owing to the shade of the willows overhead, the roots of +which matted and held the banks intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were +accordingly cut for the new dams and the work begun in earnest. + +"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced Joel. "It +would waste too much time to go and come. When we build the upper one, +we can work from home." + +The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built several +miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the creek, merely to +hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow cuttings were planted +along the borders and around the dams, the ends of which were riprapped +with stone, and a spillway cut to accommodate any overflow +during freshets. + +The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, and the +reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. The unusual +winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the ground, and the +grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, while the garden grew +like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year before had repaid well in +forage, and was again planted. In the face of another drouthy summer, +the brothers sowed as if they fully expected to reap. "Keep busy" was +the slogan of the springtime. + +The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. Nearly +one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the peltry had +commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers swaggered in their +saddles. But still the herds failed to come. + +"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were expecting +company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some of these +evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the lead of his herd. +Let's make out that we're looking for them." + +Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail man +appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of the second +week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen of them on +the trail." + +"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion. + +"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all swim. +Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon across +swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is nothing to +those trail men." + +Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of hail, +Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the two rolled +over and over on the grass. + +"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," explained +Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are my boys. Look +at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two mothers. Boys, shake +hands with Mr. Lovell." + +The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. He was +a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, with an energy +that pulsed in every word and action. There was a careworn expression in +his face, while an intensity of purpose blazed from hungry, deep-set +eyes which swept every detail of the scene at a glance. That he was +worried to the point of exhaustion was evident the moment that +compliments were exchanged. + +"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, if I am +correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from Dodge to the +Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the worst drouths in the +history of the trail confronts us, and if you can water my cattle +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River, you can name your +own price." + +"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the blackboard, +"before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. Lovell the water." + +All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the single +seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek were five +beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows interlapped. The +pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, the quartette turned +homeward, satisfied of the abundant water supply. + +"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest to his +employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of the sun +that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the pools until +the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver." + +"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--" + +"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in this +ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the asking. Am I +right, boys?" + +"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly replied +Joel. + +"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man Joel Wells +that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, these boys of +mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not out to rob a +neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking Water, you can +order the herds to pull out for the Platte." + +"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get the +water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a man his +price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm welcome to it for +nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts. Are +you three plotting against me?" + +"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe all right. +In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact that you have +five horses on this ranch. They were left here last fall, expecting to +pick them up this spring. Two of them were cripples and three were good +cow horses. Now, these boys of mine are just branching out into cattle, +and they don't need money, but a few good horses are better than gold. +That's about the plot. What would you say was the right thing to do?" + +Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But I'm still +in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?" + +The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds reach +here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a number of +tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it through +without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a fighting +chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent in an +abandoned steer for you, but these boys--" + +"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. "I'll give +all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are worthless to me, but +good as gold to these boys. What else?" + +"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, speak a +good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I think you'll +find them on the square." + +"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he alighted at +the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla will not exceed +five thousand dollars. It cost me double that getting out of Texas." + +Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside drouth, +which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the trail as in +other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the concentration of +a year's drive into a more limited space of time. Unconscious of its +value, the boys awoke to the fact that they controlled the only water +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River--sixty miles of the +plain. Many of the herds were under contract and bond to cattle +companies, individuals, army posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse +would be accepted for any failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an +ill-wind to some, but the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could +extend relief. + +After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest had +unearthed the winter struggle of his protégés, and gloating over the +manner in which the boys had met and overcome the unforeseen, he assumed +an observant attitude in addressing his employer. + +"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," said he, +"to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, here on the +Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of over five hundred +cattle. And you must recollect that these were rag-tag and bob-tail, the +flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per cent cripples, walking on +crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, under herd, a sleet over the +range for six weeks, against your ten per cent kill on an open range. +You must have a slatterly, sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch." + +Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle interests. +"That was a first report that you are quoting from," said he to Forrest. +"It was more prophecy than statement. We must make allowances for young +men. There is quite a difference between getting scared and being hurt. +My beef outfit has orders to go three hundred miles south of our range +and cover all round-ups northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift +was heavy, but I'm not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. +Promptly meeting government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are +two weeks behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. +Help me figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel. + +"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night." + +"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of these boys +can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound train. Wire your beef +herds to pull out for the Platte. You can trust the water to improve +from here north." + +"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman. + +"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That will cover +the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, and time our +drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud." + +"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get an +extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my bonds will +amount to a fortune." + +"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The government +don't expect the impossible." + +"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts a bond, +and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks the plank, +it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not how much sleep I +lose, red tape never worries." + +The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. "The +programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the latter. "The +horses will be ready at daybreak." + +It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part of the +brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the drover, and +a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every way. + +"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," said +Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman in a +thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's rather +deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him about the men +on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter kill when they +could drift, and the round-up will catch every living hoof. He was too +foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this long yell about the drouth +interfering with delivery dates keeps the trail outfits against the +bits. Admitting his figures, the water expense won't be a drop in the +bucket. It affords good worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting +form. I'm glad he came along; treat him fair and square, and his +friendship means something to you, boys." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN ILL WIND + + +The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the morning. Joel +accompanied the drover, the two best horses being under saddle, easily +capable of a road gait that would reach the railroad during the early +forenoon. The direct course lay across country, and once the sun flooded +the Beaver valley, the cowman swung around in the saddle and his +practical eye swept the range. On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken +country beyond, including the sand hills, he turned to his guide. + +"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future before you. +This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our horses' feet +carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have the range here for +thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy young steers; pay any +price; but get more cattle. The growth of young steers justifies any +outlay. Come down to Dodge about the first of August. This drouth is +liable to throw some bargains on that market. Be sure and come. I'll +keep an eye open in your interest on any cattle for sale." + +The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were not +entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of the +brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the team stood +in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of sight to the south +the buckboard started on its northern errand. Dell accompanied it, +protesting against his absence from home, but Forrest brushed aside +every objection. + +"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we may be +back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. Turn your +ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't halfway through our +figuring." + +Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the north, the +same day that Forrest and his employer started up the trail from the +south, and at the expected point the two foremen met. The report showed +water in abundance from the Republican River northward, confirming +Forrest's assertion to his employer, and completing the chain of waters +between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest returned with the buckboard, which +reached the Beaver after midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep. + +"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of Joel's bunk, +"that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good fighting. Yes, I +heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I was with you the night +you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all along the line, wasn't it +good fighting?" + +"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets. + +"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of the March +drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't trust poor old +Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down the creek here a few +miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the horse forgot more than he +himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. As long as a man hearkens to +his horse, there is no danger of bad counsel being thrust on him." + +The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the exacting +nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, and while +harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention to setting the +ranch in order to water the passing herds. + +"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas fever +among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd until +after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry Grove, and keep +a dead-line fully three miles wide between the wintered and through +trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, cripples or strays, hold +them down the creek--between here and the old trail crossing. For fear +of losing them you can't even keep milk cows around the ranch, so turn +out your calves. Don't ask me to explain Texas fever. It's one of the +mysteries of the trail. The very cattle that impart it after a winter in +the north catch the fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a +mild form, in through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or +northern wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The +sure, safe course is to fear and avoid it." + +The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in charge of +Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had ridden to the +Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a moment at parting. + +"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing ten +days to reach here--" + +He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, come out on +the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you will see a dust +cloud in the south. The long distance between waters will put the herd +through on schedule time. Come out and meet me." + +The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were over. The +herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised relief to the +drover and his cattle. + +"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is from one to +three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped from sight. "The +government, so he says, allows three cents for watering cavalry horses +and harness mules. He tells me that the new settlers, in control of the +water on the trail, in northern Texas, fairly robbed the drovers this +year. The pastoral Texan, he contends, shared his canteen with the +wayfarer, and never refused to water cattle. He wants us to pattern +after the Texans--to give our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell +raised the question of arranging to water his herds from our beaver +ponds, do you remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad +money wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses." + +"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said Joel, +"but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He says we +must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in August, and +I'm going." + +Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. "Any +one tell your fortune lately?" + +"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. One of +those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand here and +you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range had a value, +and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, and stock it. What +he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. Lovell sees now, you may +see a year hence. These men have proved their friendship, and why stand +in our own light? Our ability to hold cattle was tested last winter, and +if this range is an asset, there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm +going to Dodge in August." + +Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in order. +Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling in to +headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on the +general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to the +Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that the cattle +might reach the former river the following evening. The brothers knew to +a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the trailing pace, and could +anticipate to an hour the time required to move a herd from the Prairie +Dog to the Beaver. + +The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. The +dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between imaginary +landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a sentinel, stood a +lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt thou go and no +farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of condition, were brought +home and located below the ranch, and the house stood in order. + +The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach the +divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the Beaver, the +leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty cattle that had +scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the heavy beeves +identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point man, the +situation cleared. + +"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?" + +"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next swell +of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on. + +It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd snailed +forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety of color, +the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral picture of +strength and beauty. + +The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the opposite +side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, and while the +two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing lad on the left +reined out and saluted the boys. + +With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember the day +we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?" + +"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man across the +herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty greeting. + +"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the lad who +rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking hands. Turn your +horses the other way and tell me how you like it out West." + +Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves was fully +a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, the wagon and +remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman still at the rear. The +dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the distance, and while Joel +pondered on its location over the divide, a horseman emerged from a dip +in the plain and came toward him in a slow gallop. + +"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, slacking his +horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which swell was the real +divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch last summer, but the frost +has mellowed up the soil and the grass has overgrown the paths until +every trace is gone. I planted a guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's +Trail,' so the other foremen will know where to turn off. All the old +man's herds are within three or four days' drive, and after that it's +almost a solid column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of +the rear herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle." + +The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle stock, +but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been dropping +our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will bring them +through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going to saw off +three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, good for +next year." + +A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions given the +point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once man and boy had +fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was given and the cattle +turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. The wagon and remuda +never halted; on being joined by the two horsemen, they continued on +into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the hour named to water the herd, +and punctual to the moment the beeves, with a mile-wide front, were +grazed up to the creek. + +The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner was +over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in mimicking a +trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd was within +sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in below the ranch +for the noon camp. + +Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own men. +"Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out to-night. I may +not be with you, but water in the Republican at six o'clock to-morrow +evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he concluded, addressing +the segundo. + +The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to quench +thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the strong, and the +excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and thirsty. An hour is the +minimum time, during which half the herd may drink and lie down, +affording the others the chance to approach without fear and slake +their thirst. + +The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the water +were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, while the +others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. The previous +scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy beeves, equally +select with the vanguard, floundered into the pools, lowed in their joy, +drank to gorging, fought their fellows, staggered out of the creek, and +dropped to rest in the first dust or dry grass. + +Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, when he +and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, and sent the +second herd on its way. Each of the three advance herds must reach the +Republican the following day, and it was scant two o'clock when the +third one trailed out from the Beaver. With mature cattle there were +few cripples, and the day ended with an addition to the little ranch of +the promised horses and a few tender-footed beeves. There were two more +herds of heavy beef cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next +forenoon, and the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, +intended for army delivery, had passed the ranch. + +The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From that far +distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages the one has +ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds promptly reached the +Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, and passed on before noon. + +"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when the last +herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six herds of contract +cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of beeves, but Mr. Lovell +detailed him to oversee this next division across to the Platte. Forrest +will follow Quirk with the last five herds of young steers, slated for +the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. That puts our cattle +across the Beaver, but you'll have plenty of company for the next month. +Mr. Lovell has made a good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll +give these trail drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, +there are two things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, +and that the cows will calve in the spring." + +Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. Before +dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon and remuda, +and returned to the tent. + +"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping his +saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for water this +year that every foreman seems to think that unless he reaches the river +to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart was the limit agreed on +before leaving Dodge, and here I am with six herds--twenty thousand +cattle!--within twenty miles of the Beaver. For fear of a stampede last +night, we threw the herds left and right, two miles off the trail. The +Lord surely loves cattle or the earth would have shook from +running herds!" + +That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the Lovell +herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the boys with his +usual rough caress. + +"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through with the +two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and an extra man +to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and friends, will be +lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch while you're gone. One +of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, remember. I'll meet you +to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the cripples out and point them in to +the new tanks below. Shake out your fat horses, sweat them up a +little--you're needed at the rear of Lovell's main drive." + +The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear herds +reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to safe camps +beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef at +headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty where +the year before he lay wounded. + +The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The lead one +yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard disgorged a +few over one hundred head. The two contingents were thrown together, the +brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, where they were freed on a +perfect range. A count of the cripples and fagged cattle, culled back at +headquarters, brought the total discard of the sixteen herds up to two +hundred and forty-odd, a riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a +young steer to a seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the +reckoning. + +Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, had +reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was to be had +in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with interest, and +once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, Forrest and the +brothers rode around the pools to take soundings. + +"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss runs +from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the heaviest," said +Joel, summing up the situation. + +"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average of +five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the reason it's +standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the stars, but the +water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell those waiting +foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch will water every +trail herd, or break a tug trying." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WATER! WATER! + + +"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of trail +foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out better +than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a trifle. +From the present outlook, we can water the drive." + +"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" trail boss. +"I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw River at Dodge +was only running at night." + +"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," doggedly said +a pock-marked foreman. + +"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W man. "The +faraway hills are always green." + +The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the total +drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, addressing +the pock-marked foreman. + +"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty thousand +head," came the languid reply. + +"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to Joel. +"Better revise your water estimate." + +"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I may have +to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle." + +"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, arising. "My +cattle must have water this evening." + +The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we drop our +strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that Mr. Lovell +mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be abandoned." + +"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the little +man. + +"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear ones +have orders to bring through to you." + +"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our range, and +crippled cattle are as good as gold to us." + +Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys followed, and +Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on the drag end of +your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll get up a fresh horse +and overtake you." + +"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign your +petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm as good +as afoot." + +The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," said Joel +to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the lead herd, +come in on the water above the field. The upper pools are the deepest, +and let your cattle cover the water evenly." + +"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to come up +to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have suffered from +thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, if grazed up to it. +You may take one point and I'll take the other." + +The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. Among +the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. Wells Brothers +were being thrown in contact with the most practical men that the +occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The novelty of trailing +cattle vast distances had its origin with the Texans. Bred to the +calling, they were masters of the craft. In the hands of an adept outfit +of a dozen men, a trail herd of three thousand beeves had all the +mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The crack of a whip was unheard on the +trail. A whispered order, followed by a signal to the men, and the herd +turned, grazed to its contentment, fell into column formation, and took +up its march--a peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact +with these men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the boys. + +The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a mile of +the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel Wells. But +instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on into the lead, +the action being seemingly understood by every one except the new hand +on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive column of beeves yield to +his slightest pressure, as a ship to the hand of the helmsman, as he +veered the leaders out of the broken trails and guided the herd around +the field to the upper pools. On nearing the water, the deposed point +men deployed nearer the lead, when the object of their position +explained itself. On sighting the ponds, the leaders broke into a run, +but the four horsemen at hand checked the excited dash, and the herd was +led up to the water in column formation. It was the mastery of man over +the creature. + +The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The swarthy +little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an Indian agency +in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under contract to +different cattle companies, in adjoining states and territories. The +tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but the point of delivery +was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch outfit would receive +the cattle. + +The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven on +speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, and the +men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot. + +"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, "of +walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A mount of six +horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it won't do on the +trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on the Platte. Actually, +this afternoon is the first time I have felt a horse under me since we +crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of paper, please. I want to give you +a bill of sale for these six drag ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I +carry written authority to give a bill of sale, and it will always +protect your possession of the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a +head in Ogalalla, but when they round into form again next summer, some +brand ferret passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I +cull out here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned." + +The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. The rush +of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during their waking +hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting of cripples to the +new tanks below was pressing, and order must be established. The water +in the pools was the main concern, a thing beyond human control, and a +matter of constant watchfulness. A remark dropped during the day, of +water flowing at night, was not lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells. + +"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W foreman, +while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only running +at night?" + +"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by day," +replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of the plain, +including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the south, only flow at +night. It's their protection against the sun's absorption. Mark these +pools at sunset and see if they don't rise an inch to-night. Try it +and see." + +Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. The +extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was indulged +in and freely expressed. + +"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, sleepless in his +blankets, "it'll double our holding of cattle." + +"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got to stand +by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the Republican. +I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are gone, we'll round up +the wintered cattle, drift them over to the south fork of the +Republican, and get some one to hold them until frost falls. Then we'll +ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, and that will free the new +tanks--water enough for twenty trail herds. We have the horses, and +these trail outfits will lend us any help we need. By shifting cattle +around, I can see a month's supply. And there may be something in water +rising at night. We'll know in the morning." + +Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the trail +foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss knew," shouted +Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The water rose in every +pool. The lower one gained an inch and the upper one gained two. The +creek is running freely. The water must be rising out of the ground. Let +those Texans bring on their herds. We have oceans of water!" + +The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new ranch. It +took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared for, and a hand +was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag end. Open house was +maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered a horse, and left his +benediction on the Beaver. + +The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first foremen to +arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up at sunset, with +a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual easy manner +inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?" + +"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising the +situation. "One of your men hurt?" + +"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. "Just a +little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant water, out of +cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets into the bones of the +best of us. I'm not feeling very well myself." + +Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the poor +fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you and I +carry him?" + +"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him in," +answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel Wells?" + +"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and we'll +bring the sick man in at once." + +It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. The +unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, Straw had +skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules. + +"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after greeting +Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one of the +trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has to go back +to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify them for +the trip." + +The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued Straw, +"by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the best men that +ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him on his feet again. +Now, if one of you boys will take the team back to--" + +"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this hospital wants +done--We're running a relief station now--watering the entire drive this +year. Where's your outfit camped?" + +"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's empty. +Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in time for +breakfast." + +"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, is a +horse that's easy curried." + +The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time the sick +man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his cattle made +welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, Straw had lost his +place in the overland march, two herds having passed him and crossed +the Beaver. + +"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who arrived +together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter that'll rob you +right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the bill in advance. This +cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth three cents a head, and I'll +count you down to a toddling calf and your wagon mules. Your drafts are +refused honor at the Beaver banks--nothing but the long green passes +currency here. You varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage +of a widow woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me." + +"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of the +foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept with me? +How's the black cow I gave you last summer?" + +Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" said he, +recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. Sit down. +Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like lettuce?" + +"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the two +mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in smoke. You're +not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, ransack both our +wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some dainties for this sick +lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; he never has anything to eat; +Injuns won't go near his wagon." + +Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, make +yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and they're +our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when you get on +your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count on a job with +me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit is relieved. This +fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. I'll keep an eye over +you until you are well. S'long, Jack." + +The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. There +were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of advancing summer +the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources of the ponds were a +constant source of surprise, as an occasional heavy beef caved a foot +into an old beaver warren, which poured its contents into the pools. At +the end of the first fortnight, after watering fifty-eight herds, nearly +half the original quantity of water was still in reserve. + +A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the arrival of +herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water reserves suffered +freely, more from the sun's absorption than from cattle, until the +supply became a matter of the most serious concern. The pools would not +have averaged a foot in depth, the flow from the springs was a mere +trickle, the beaver burrows sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and +there must be some limit to the amount the parched soil would yield. + +The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the second +week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack Sargent, was +up and observant of the situation. True to his calling, he felt for the +cattle, and knew the importance of water on the Beaver to the +passing drive. + +"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the emergency. +"Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun an advantage. +It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You must deepen these +pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest these ponds a few days, or +only water late at night. You have water for weeks yet, but don't let +the sun rob you. These ponds are living springs compared to some of the +water we used south of Red River. Meet the herds on the divide, and +pilot the early ones to the tanks below, and the late ones in here. +Shifting in your saddle rests a horse, and a little shifting will save +your water." + +The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was installed as +host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their saddles. The majority +of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and after a consultation with +the foremen their cattle were started so as to reach the tanks by day or +the ranch at evening. The month rounded out with the arrival of eighteen +herds, only six of which touched at headquarters, and the fourth week +saw a distinct gain in the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys +barely touched at home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, +piloting in herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and +content with the crumbs that fell to their range. + +The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral history of the +West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana cattle trail was marked +by the bones of forty thousand cattle that fell, due to the want of +water, during the months of travail on that long march. Some of this +loss was due to man's inhumanity to the cattle of the fields, in +withholding water, but no such charge rested on the owners of the little +ranch on the Beaver. + +A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's drive. +Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had strength in +reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. The +fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which touched at the ranch; +half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had neither a cripple nor a +stray to bestow, but shared the welcome water and passed on. + +One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It was from +Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous invitation to come to +Dodge and look over the market. + +"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have returned +to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is inviting. The boom +prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. Any investment in cattle +now is perfectly safe. + +"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will pass your +ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring a mount of +horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this year's drive is +here, unsold. Be sure and come." + +"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter. + +"I am," answered Joel with emphasis. + +"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap that no +other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to buy her. +Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to buy or all +want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys have told me; +but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I can see that he's +going to take advantage of that market and buy about ten thousand +cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. I'll stay with Dell until +you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, and I'll help you hold them +this winter." + +The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust cloud, the +slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching cavalcade. The last +week admitted of taking an account of the cattle dropped at the new +ranch. From the conserves of its owners, one hundred and four herds had +watered, over three hundred thousand cattle, the sweepings of which +amounted to a few over eleven hundred head, fully fifty of which, +exhausted beyond recovery, died after reaching their new range. + +By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August was +ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the division +foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the morning, in advance +of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for Joel. Dell answered for +the brothers, the older one and Sargent being above at Hackberry Grove. + +"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. "Make +haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of six horses +and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the seventh. My outfit +will barely touch here in passing. We're due to receive cattle in Dodge +on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can overtake us before night. +Make haste." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A PROTECTED CREDIT + + +The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. The +importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, he +started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were met +returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the breathless +report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the homeward ride. + +"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging out of +the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a feed of +corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince says that +that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a camp at night, +or trail a remuda like a hound." + +An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a wild-goose +chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I can make a hand +coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your name goes on the +pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of the ranch, anyhow. +There isn't much to do except to ride the dead-line twice a day. The +wintered cattle are located; and the cripples below--the water and +their condition will hold them. Keep open house, and amuse yourselves +the best you can. That's about all I can think of just now." + +Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his years, he +was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, the far-famed +trail-town of the West, and without visible resources buy cattle, was a +fit subject for musing. There the drovers from Texas and the ranchmen +from the north and west met and bartered for herds--where the drive of +the year amounted to millions in value. Still the boy carried a pressing +invitation from a leading drover to come, and neither slacking rein nor +looking back, he was soon swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain. + +Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said the +latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy cattle +without money gets me." + +"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured a start +in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a thousand head +out of the cripples this year, what have they cost you?" + +"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market where +buyers and sellers meet." + +"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of two +years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in Texas. Cattle +companies were organized on the very summit of that craze. Then came the +slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price nearly forty per cent. This +year there is a further falling. I'm giving you Texas conditions. Half +the herds at Dodge to-day are being handled by the receivers of cattle +companies or by trustees for banks. That accounts for the big drive. +Then this drouth came on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any +purpose, except to restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. +They'll buy the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get +good and ready." + +Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern cowman +can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?" + +"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his neck, all +the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is pouring into +cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as good as gold. Now, +when all that investment is trying to withdraw from cattle, they become +a drag on the market. The Simple Simons ain't all dead yet. Joel will +buy cattle." + +"He may, but I don't see how." + +"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are known in +Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during the drouth, +has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your behalf, is as good as +money in the bank. Joel will come back with cattle. My only fear is, he +won't strain his credit." + +"Credit! Who would credit us?" + +"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your showing at +the same age. They have fought their way up and know who to credit. Your +range and ability to hold cattle are your best assets. We must shape up +the ranch, because Joel will come in with cattle." + +"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, if Joel +comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and shout as +loud as any of you." + +"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's saddle up +horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I want to get the +lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the cattle." + +Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles a +day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the lone +horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman halted +until Joel overtook the travelers. + +"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to crowd three +days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with you, but I had a +wire to pick you up." + +"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more cattle," +admitted Joel. + +"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our way now +to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of cattle in +sight for you." + +"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if it takes +any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy. + +"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man do the +worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he has everything +all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, but it's as clear as +mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four days." + +The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after sunrise, +a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the heat-waves rolled +up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat and dust crusted over +the horses under saddle, without variation of pace or course. Only three +herds were met, feeling their way through the mirages, or loitering +along the waters. Traveling by night was preferable, and timing the +route into camps and marches, the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was +sighted in advance of the schedule. + +The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd had been +sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made snug, a +conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell alighted. + +"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, amid +general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on enough +cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to receive +them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll receive to-morrow +afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but his outfit ought to +reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on this market, and have +all the cattle in sight that I want. Several deals are pending, awaiting +the arrival of this boy. Come to town to-night. I'll take Joel under my +wing right now." + +Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and the +vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and following down +the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail wagon encamped. A +number of men were about, including a foreman; and at the request of Mr. +Lovell to look over their cattle and horses again the camp took on an +air of activity. A small remuda was corralled within ropes, running from +choice to common horses, all of which were looked over carefully by the +trio, including the wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, +and led by the foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to +bunch the herd. + +Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig and +leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the best +herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and I've kept the +deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it together. It runs full +thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred threes and the remainder +twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds for my beef ranch, because I +double-winter all my steer cattle--it takes two winters in the north to +finish these Texas steers right. Now, if you can handle the threes, the +remnant of twos, and the saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, +and barrel. The threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next +fall, and you can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two +thousand of the two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we +look them over, leave me to close the trade." + +"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy cattle +without money," earnestly said Joel. + +"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this herd +together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, and a +ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can buy, with or +without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like the cattle and want +them, leave it all to me." + +"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested Joel. + +"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these southern +horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year you'll be +running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending others on fall +round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll have them in the pink +of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few under sixty horses, as +fifty head were detailed out here to strengthen remudas that had to go +to the Yellowstone. This foreman will tell you that he topped out +twenty-five of the choice horses before the other trail bosses were +allowed to pick. As the remuda stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. +A year hence one will be as good as the other. You'll need the horses, +and by buying down to the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and +free, it will help me to close the trade, in our mutual interest." + +The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by quietly +edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be easily looked +over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the prospective buyers, the +foreman had the cattle sufficiently compact, and the old man and the boy +drove back and forth through the herd for fully an hour. They were +thrifty, western Texas steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the +trail at Camp Supply, and were all that could be desired in range +cattle. The two agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out +from among the cattle, the foreman was signaled up. + +"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said Mr. +Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to pick up +another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very near selling +me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the threes and remnant of +twos, and if you price the horses right, we might leave you afoot. If +you see Dudley before I do, tell him I looked over his cattle again." + +"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the vehicle. + +Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of wicked +Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its iniquity +catering largely to the rabble. + +"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you look +after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is almost sure +to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we looked over his cattle +again. I want him to hound me into buying that herd." + +Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to all that +was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in the extreme. +The two strolled about the streets during the evening hours, and on +returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard was awaiting the old +drover. There was no prelude to the matter at issue, and after arranging +with other sellers to receive the following day, Mr. Lovell led the way +to his room. + +"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, presenting +Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the Beaver this summer. +I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and gave him a good scolding +for not stocking his range somewhere near its carrying capacity. He's +the buyer I had in view for your three-year-olds. You offered me the +herd, on time, and at satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the +twos, and Wells Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you +afoot. Say so, and your herd is sold." + +"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen to know +the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend them a credit. +This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with boys." + +"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily replied +Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making the fight +that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early struggles, had +some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it might have been +different with us to-day. And now when I don't need no help--Dud, it +don't cost much to help others. These boys have proven themselves white, +to yours and to my men and to yours and to my cattle. Is there nothing +we can do?" + +Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer to you. +Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and remnants. You +know the brothers--you know their resources." + +"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot. + +"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?" + +"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. Their +only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last winter, the +most severe one in the history of the West, they lost two per cent of +their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good a showing on any of +our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to throw on this boy's +shoulders the _responsibility_ of _paying_ for _any cattle he buys_. At +his age it would be wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you +and I stand behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right +effort to protect his credit." + +"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll suggest the +means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway." + +Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet of +paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from seller to +buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will be a vendor's +lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its second will be the +appointment of a commission house, who will act as agent, hold this +contract, and receive the beeves when ready for shipment to market. Its +third clause will be your right, as creditor in a sale of chattel, to +place a man of your own selection on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their +pay and subject to their orders. As your representative, the privilege +is granted of making a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the +condition of the cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet +this, their covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887. + +"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. Lovell, +throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to learn the +value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, it's an asset. +I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I want him to meet his +first obligation on or before the day of maturity. I can speak for the +boy's willingness to make such a contract. What do you say?" + +"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard. + +"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a seven +days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your outfit home from +Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all your trouble. What +do you say?" + +"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a +square deal." + +The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and threw his +arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The cattle's yours! That +old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all around the big corral and +spur him in the flank at every jump, unless he comes to those terms. An +iron-clad bill of sale is its own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I +want to give the long yell." + +Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel arose to +meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and action. + +"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose twinkling +eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to draw up that +bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for themselves next +fall. Get to bed, you rascals!" + +"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river and +gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the doorway. + +"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the morning. We'll +close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred of those Womack +twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an eye over Joel's +cattle until the Beaver's reached." + +During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in contact +with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the migrations +of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and Ogalalla are +unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, reaching a climax +on American soil, and not of record in any other country or time. Joel +let little escape him. Here men bought and sold by the thousand head, in +his day and generation, and he was a part of that epoch. + +The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest were +purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in receiving a +herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted by two competent +foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and wherefore, was pointed +out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, so that the lesson sunk into +Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the first herd received was in the +uniform average of each animal, when ages, class, and build governed +selection. + +Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's rest +arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next morning. +When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness with which the +two outfits classified the cattle was only short of marvelous. The +threes were cut out, and each age counted. The over-plus of the younger +cattle were cut back, and the contingents were tendered on delivery. The +papers were ready, executed on the ground, and the herds started, the +smaller in the lead. + +The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most of his +time with the little herd, which used only eight men, counting Joel, who +stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd numbered a few over +fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six horses, a team and wagon, +the total contract price of which was a trifle under twenty-five +thousand dollars. It looked like a serious obligation for two boys to +assume, but practical men had sanctioned it, and it remained for the +ability of Wells Brothers to meet it. + +On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the new trail, +which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, a remark was +dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack Sargent. It resulted +in the two riding out on the trail, only to meet the purchased cattle, +Joel on one point and Forrest on the other, directing the herds to the +tanks below. The action bespoke its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the +latter jerked his thumb over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and +pilot the wagon and remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of +cattle into the new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. +Lovell's cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. +See how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over that. +Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit to the +railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers are shaking +out a right smart bit of sail these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"THE WAGON" + + +The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the appointed +time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial obligation, it +would establish their standing, and to that end every energy must be +directed. They were extremely fortunate in the advice and help of two +young men bred to the occupation, and whose every interest lay in making +a success of the ranch. + +The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything was +abandoned but their saddles--_burning the wagon_--while Joe Manly, one +of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even the foreman, and on +taking his departure the trail boss, in the presence of all, said to his +man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to this ranch and make a useful hand. +Drop old man Dudley a line whenever you have a chance. It's quite a +little ride to the station, and we'll understand that no news is good +news. And once you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, +better raise the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the +fall--during the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next +summer's plans begin to unfold." + +Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of the +South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had watered +during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving its foreman on +the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, paving the way in +detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle during the coming winter. +With numbers exceeding three thousand, close herd and corralling at +night was impossible, and the riding of lines, with an extra camp, +admitting of the widest freedom, was decided on as the most feasible +method. The new camp must be located well above Hackberry Grove, and to +provision it for man and horse was one of the many details outlined in +meeting the coming winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having +held cattle by one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting +some other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was simple +and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault from +drifting cattle. + +Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next morning, he +turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may be the last time +I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is talk of the trail +moving west. On account of fever, this State threatens to quarantine +against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail will have to move over into +Colorado or hunt a new route through unorganized counties on the western +line of Kansas. In event of quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger +range for Wells Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in +cattle, just getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big +future for you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, +toddling around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't matter +if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank account, be living +on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as you stick to cows, +through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse you." + +The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and Manly +busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and Sargent +accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that evening, and it +proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for that summer. + +The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was narrowed +to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle watering at +the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, including all +horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty head, was moved up +to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The wintered horses furnished +ample saddle mounts for the present, there being little to do, as the +water held the new cattle and no herding was required. The heat of +summer was over, the water held in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch +settled down in pastoral security. + +Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of forage must +be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to the man was the +lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery was available on the +railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned with a new mowing machine, +and the matter of providing abundant forage was easily met. Sufficient +hay, from a few bends of the creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the +home ranch, and a week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site +of the new line-camp equipped with winter forage. + +While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced on Wells +Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to any pastoral +occupation, and hence _the wagon_ becomes a cowman's home and castle. +From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, welcomes the wayfarer, and +exchanges the chronicle of the range. The wagon, which had been acquired +with the new herd and used on the above occasion, was well equipped with +canvas cover, water barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The +latter was fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a +kitchen. When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus becomes +home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the other. Saddle +horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the safety of a camp-fire +and the protection of their masters, and therefore a closer bond exists +between the men of the open and their mounts than under more refined +surroundings. + +Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down the +Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of running water. +It was followed by early frosts, lifting the dead-line and ushering in +Indian summer. With forage secure, attention was turned to the cattle. +The purchase of a mowing machine had exhausted the funds derived from +the sale of peltry, and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide +the munitions for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly +provisioned for a week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the +quartette moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown into a +compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the spiritless +cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid as fawns, shied +from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in comforting concern, the beeves +waddled about from carrying their own flesh, while the patriarchs of the +herd bellowed in sullen defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut +out from the ---- Y brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first +shipment of cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets. + +Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the railroad. +Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the remuda, the two +others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn in standing guard at +night. Water was plentiful, cars were in waiting, and on reaching the +railroad, the cattle were corralled in the shipping pens. + +Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The beeves were +consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as factor in +marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently passed from the +possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells Brothers. The two cars of +cattle found a ready sale, the weights revealing a surprise, attracting +the attention of packers and salesmen to the quality of beef from the +Beaver valley. + +"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a salesman to a +packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the weighing scale. "You +and I needn't worry about the question of range--the buffalo knew. Catch +the weights of these cattle and compare it with range beef from the +sedge-grass and mountain country. Tallow tells its own story--the +buffalo knew the best range." + +An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a mutual +basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, detained Joel +and Manly in his private office for an hour. + +"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to ship," said +the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The Solomon River +country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is the first shipment +from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your consignment the fattest +range beeves on to-day's market. And these weights confirm the +statement. I don't understand it. What kind of a country have you +out there?" + +Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered the +latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by the +thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and rolls away." + +It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. "The +grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native grasses?" + +"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of course, +here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a little blue-stem, +enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. The cattle won't +touch it." + +The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, of which +the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The details were gone +over carefully, the outlook for next year's shipments reviewed, and on +taking their leave, the old man said to his guests:-- + +"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters from both +Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over the situation, +with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and satisfactory. Next +year's shipments will take care of the contract. Keep in touch with us, +and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship your cattle in finished +condition, and they'll make a market for themselves. We'll expect you +early next summer." + +"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel. + +"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your single-wintered +beeves," said the old man, from his practical knowledge in maturing +beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has your account all ready." + +Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a moment. The +beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and except for current +expenses, the funds were left on deposit with the commission house, as +there were no banks near home; the account was subject to draft, and +accepting a small advance in currency, the boys departed. A brief hour's +shopping was indulged in, the principal purchases being two long-range +rifles, cartridges and poison in abundance, when they hastened to the +depot and caught a west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, +and at evening the next day the two rode into headquarters on +the Beaver. + +Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the first +shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an air of +independence indicated the turn in the swing of the pendulum. Practical +men, in every avenue of the occupation, had lent their indorsement to +the venture of the brothers, the mettle of the pasture had been tested +in the markets, and the future, with reasonable vigilance, rested on +sure foundations. + +The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think Uncle Dud +would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at supper. "There's +no occasion for my staying here this winter. Besides, I'm a tender +plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of thunder. Wouldn't I like +to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, 'Come home, my little white +chicken, come home!'" + +"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!" + +"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now listen to the +foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every hoof up to date. +Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building of a new dug-out and +stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight in plenty of corn. After +that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's our own fault. No excuse will +pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, +make yourself a useful guest for the winter." + +A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their mothers were +brought down to the home corral and branded in a single day. The +Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were exempt, the Lazy H +ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. Only cripple, fagged, and +stray cattle were branded, the latter numbering less than a hundred +head, and were run into the Hospital brand, while the remainder bore +the--Y of the ranch. The work was completed within a week, Dell making a +hand which proved his nerve, either in the saddle or branding pen. + +The first week in October was devoted to building the new dug-out and +stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and tool on the +ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as well as the +remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as if it were a +frolic. The site had been decided on during the haying, and on reaching +the scene, the tent was set up, and the building of a shelter for man +and horse was begun. + +The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and the +remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt break or +low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot cellar walls on +three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod walls and containing +the door. The sod was broken by a team and plough, cut into lengths like +brick, and the outside walls raised to the desired height. For roofing, +a heavy ridge-pole was cut the length of the room, resting on stout +upright posts. Lighter poles were split and laid compactly, like +rafters, sheeted with hay, and covered with loose dirt to the depth of a +foot. The floor was earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented +by a door in the south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable +shelter. A roomy stable was built on the same principle and from the +same material. + +The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, when the +quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway house at Land's +End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the new improvements. "What +are you going to call the new tepee?" + +"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell having +accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and let the +latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you must bring your +knitting and come over." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OPEN WINTER + + +An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late fall +frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light rains in +September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on the sunny +slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus assuring abundant +forage to the cattle. + +Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any cold, +while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the plains. +After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, the quartette +paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new dug-out, while the other +two were perfectly content with the old shack at headquarters. A healthy +spirit of rivalry sprang up, extending from a division of the horses +down to a fair assignment of the blankets. + +Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter aroused a +dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said Sargent, "up on +the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail outfit were detailed +until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the cattle, and of course the +cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught us in camp, and that poor +darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to say to the foreman, shivering +over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah +fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no +place fo' a po' ol' niggah.'" + +Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round trips +being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies for the +winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of which were +four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of corned beef fell a +pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was nothing new in pickling +the meat, and with the exception of felling the beeves, the incident +passed as part of the day's work. Dell claimed the privilege of making +the shots, which Sargent granted, but exercised sufficient caution to +corral the beeves. Both fell in their tracks, and the novice gained +confidence in his skill in the use of a rifle. + +The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of lines. That +date found all the new cattle drifted above headquarters, and as it was +some ten miles to the upper line-camp, an extremely liberal range was +allowed the herd. Eight of the best wintered horses were stabled, and at +first the line was maintained on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer +line was agreed upon, five miles to the south; but until the season +forced the cattle to the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept +under patrol. The outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an +immense half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the winter +range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, drifting +before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back or +trailed down. + +The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. Many of +the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, not even +coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several times the +horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an advantage, the +cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft snow even failed to +bring the cattle into the valley. + +Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. The +through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter fat and +furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and instinctively +leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the first storm. Between +the morning and evening patrol of a perfect day, the herd, of its own +accord, drifted into the valley, the leaders rioting in a wild frolic. +Their appearance hastened the patrol of the inner line by an hour, every +nook and shelter, including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome +cattle. The calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the +older cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their +foreheads in clay and soft dirt. + +"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met. + +"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came the +reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, the +herd say so." + +"What can we do?" + +"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless driven out +by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming storm also +teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the blue-stem to-night, or +hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank." + +A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was agreed +upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out early, and +keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the line," Sargent +called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will leave The Wagon at +daybreak." + +The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an angry +horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from the north. +On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm on an angle, +edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting defiance and +warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. The light advanced +slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, obscuring the valley, and not +until the slope to the south was reached was the situation known. + +No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving the +line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering trace +where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both he and Dell +dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach and departure, +the range-bred man was able to give a perfect summary of the situation. + +"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," remarked +Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; the storm must +have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. They struck the +creek in the flats and were driven out of the valley. The trail's not +over two hours old. Ride the line until you meet the other boys, and +I'll trail down these cattle. The sand dunes ought to catch them." + +Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was met. +Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a contingent +of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting the stragglers +back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers turned to the +assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, and finally bearing +off for the sand hills. Several times the sun threatened to break +through, lighting the valley, but without revealing any stir among the +cattle in the shelter of the creek. In the short time since leaving +their stables, the horses under saddle had whitened from the action of +the frost on their sweaty coats, unheeded by their riders. There was no +checking of mounts until the range of dunes was reached, when from the +summit of a sand hill the stragglers were located in care of Sargent, +and on the homeward drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered +from the cold that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, +and were overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain. + +The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of the +brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the sun burst +forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in parting. "A few +hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got the upper hand of this +storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the wind lulls, we'll ride the +inner line to-night and bed every hoof in the shelter of the creek. Pick +up Manly, and we'll ride the valley line about the middle of the +afternoon." + +Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under patrol +from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to Dell, +leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and before noon +all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty miles had been +covered that morning, in riding the line and recovering the lost, and at +the agreed time, the relay horses were under saddle for the afternoon +task. The sun had held sway, the wind had fallen, and as they followed +up the valley, they encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to +every quarter of the compass. They were not molested on the outward +ride, but on the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to +the sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. A +crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found the +cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first bottoms of +the creek. + +The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own accord, +the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern divide. The +line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for observing the +Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to secure a venison. The +absence of snow, during the storm, had held the antelope tributary to +the Beaver, and locating game was an easy matter. To provide the roast, +the spirit of rivalry was accented anew, and each camp fervently hoped +for its own success. + +A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a running shot +at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a morning siesta +near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only be found in the sand +hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent had flattered Dell into +believing that his aim was equal to the occasion. The broken nature of +the dune country admitted of stealthy approach, and its nearness to the +upper camp recommended it as an inviting hunting ground. The +disappointment of the first effort, due to moderated weather, was in +finding the quarry far afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the +protection of the sand hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without +shelter to screen a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and +selecting a quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins +lengthened by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking right +and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a stealthy +approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed ravenously, +sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect screen for stalking. + +After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was reached, when +the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass and allowed the +horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent indicated a sentinel buck, +presenting the best shot; and using his elbow for a rest, the rifle was +laid in the hollow of Dell's upraised hand and drawn firmly to his +shoulder, and a prompt report followed. The shot went wild, throwing up +a flash of dust before the band, which instantly whirled. The horses +merely threw up their heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, +which ran up within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the +excitement of the moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had +arisen to his knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another +cartridge into the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as +the band excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger +in vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a few +feet of the muzzle of the rifle! + +The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, laughing +until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's chagrin left him +standing like a simpleton. + +"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too easy +on the trigger." + +"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered Sargent, not +daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next spring, those scars +in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither horse was killed. Honest, +I'll never breathe it! Not for worlds!" + +Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his horse, +mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching their saddles, +the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a pleasant dream, the +boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck ague?" he earnestly inquired. + +"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his horse. +"Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or discharges one into +the ground at his feet, he ought to take something for his nerves. It's +not fatal, and I have hopes of your recovery." + +The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a peal of +laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed to +appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, "if we +have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I can grace it +with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of venison, it will fit the +occasion just as well." + +The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual amount +of banter and repartee was exchanged. + +"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked Sargent +scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much confidence +in your skill as hunters." + +"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly. + +"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We located +a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, I'll go out +in the morning and bring in a fat yearling." + +"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly with +refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow and come +down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're going to have +quite a spread." + +Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with polished +contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived on beans at +The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware wasn't as good as +their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come on!" + +Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before noon, a +young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations were made for an +extensive dinner. The practical range man is usually a competent cook, +and from the stores of the winter camp a number of extra dishes were +planned. In the way of a roast, on the plains, a saddle of venison was +the possible extreme, and the occupants of the line-camp possessed a +ruddy health which promised appetites to grace the occasion. + +Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed the dead +weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the creek from pool +to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with droning bees and +flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning patrol alone, meeting +Joel at the halfway point, when the two dismounted, whiling away several +hours in considering future plans of the ranch. + +It was high noon when the two returned to their respective quarters. +Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the venison, and on +his crony's return, the two sat down to their Christmas dinner. What the +repast lacked in linen and garnishment, it made up in stability, graced +by a cheerfulness and contentment which made its partakers at peace with +the world. Sargent was almost as resourceful in travel and story as +Quince Forrest, and never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace +any occasion. + +Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, was +enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to Sargent, "you +promised to tell a story at dinner to-day." + +"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into the ground +at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if I have to +laugh; you looked like a simpleton." + +"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell. + +"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, but in +a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to be your +father, but he looked just as witless as you did." + +"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy. + +"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in certain +sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a week's +shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, known as one of +the most fearless officers in the state. In size he simply towered above +the rest of us. + +"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking and +coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting grounds, and +the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg and every jug on +the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and were carried in +the wagon. + +"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a quail +pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the afternoon, he +killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very plentiful, and instead of +picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such a number was much quicker. In +the hurry and bustle of making the camp snug for the night, every one +was busy, the sheriff in particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On +finishing the task, he asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse +wrangler reached into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into +the vessel containing the dressed birds. + +"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and drain +his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: 'Ignacio, I +smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if the lantern +isn't leaking.' + +"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere. + +"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway through +the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. See if the +lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.' + +"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in the +flour.' + +"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: 'Ignacio, +I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a lantern without oil +puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. Drop your work and see +what the trouble is. There's a leak somewhere.' + +"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the wagon +wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, shook it, +and lifted it above his head in search of a possible crack. The empty +jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually sifted through his +mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big sheriff, just then +finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the saints to witness, he +gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail in the kerosene!' + +"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's face is +only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. "I've been +fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a Texas sheriff, and +again, when you shot a hole in the ground with your eye on an antelope. +Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I conjure up the scene of a +Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, holding a jug, and a six-footer in +the background, smelling the fingers of one hand and then the other." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN INDIAN SCARE + + +The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered wide, +ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. The latter +was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson to the +brothers, and readily explained by the older and more practical men. For +instance, a north or the dreaded east wind brought the herd into the +valley, where it remained until the weather moderated, and then drifted +out of its own free will. When a balmy south wind blew, the cattle +grazed against it, and when it came from a western quarter, they turned +their backs and the gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under +settled weather, even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it +was an easy matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the +coming day. + +The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, but more +as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The occasional reports +of Manly to his employer were flattering in the extreme. Any risk +involved in the existing contract hinged on the present winter, and +since it was all that could be desired, every fine day added to the +advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their venture had been greeted with +fair winds, and with not a cloud in the visible sky. Manly was even +recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in February. + +Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a fortnight +earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the willows were +bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening slopes rolled +away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp was abandoned, the +cattle were scattered over the entire valley, and the instincts to +garden were given free rein. The building of two additional tanks, one +below the old trail crossing and the other near the new camp above, +occupied a month's time to good advantage. It enlarged the range beyond +present needs; but the brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, +and theirs was strictly a policy of expansion. + +An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing errand, was +usually rewarded with important news. During the winter just passed, +Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the trail was barred +from that state. Early in May information reached the ranch that the +market interests of Dodge City had moved over the line into Colorado, +and had established a town on the railroad, to be known as Trail City. A +feasible route lay open to the south, across No-Man's-Land, into the +Texas Panhandle, while scouting parties were out with the intent of +locating a new trail to Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River +nearly due westward from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one +hundred miles distant. + +"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You must +have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river and a +railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the east to +the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you can buy +cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until frost, and +cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may prove an +advantage after all." + +The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The beaver +ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill race, and the +question of water for the summer was answered. The cattle early showed +the benefits of the favorable winter, and by June the brands were +readable at a glance. From time to time reports from the outside world +reached the brothers, and among other friendly letters received was an +occasional inquiry from the commission firm, the factors named under the +existing contract. The house kept in touch with the range, was fully +aware of the open winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in +maturing cattle for early shipment. + +The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent out a +month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised of a +promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the commission house, +and during the first week in July he arrived at headquarters. He was a +practical man, with little concern for comfort, as long as there were +cattle to look over. Joel took him in tow, mounted him on the pick of +saddle horses, and the two leisurely rode the range. + +"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride. + +"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. Put in +all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that range wide, +for we rode around every outside bunch. He _can_ talk, because he +admitted we have good horses." + +Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At parting the +following morning, in summing up the outlook, the solicitor surprised +the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he quietly. "You must ship +early. Your double-wintered beeves will reach their prime this month. +You may ship them any day after the 25th. Your single-wintered ones can +follow in three weeks. The firm may be able to advise you when to ship. +It's only a fourteen-hour run to the yards, and if you work a +beef-shipping outfit that's up to date, you can pick your day to reach +the market. Get your outfit together, keep in touch with the house by +wire, and market your beef in advance of the glut from the +Platte country." + +The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," said +Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us two men +during the beef-shipping season." + +"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in hand. + +"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?" + +"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. There +may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, fully +anticipating the query. + +"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand. + +The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled glance, but +Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," said the latter. +"The chances are that he's forgotten more about cattle than some of +these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he reads the sign without +much effort. His survey of this range and the outlook are worth +listening to. Better look up an outfit of men." + +"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm gone to the +Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the horses." + +The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located on the +range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters at once. They +had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, and a single day +would be required to gather and corral the ranch remuda. It numbered, +complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and the wisdom of buying the +majority a year in advance of their needs reflected the foresight of a +veteran cowman. Many of them were wild, impossible of approach, the call +of the plain and the free life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with +every heart-beat, and several days would be required to bring them under +docile subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep. + +The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied forth, +mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among the clouds. +During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed in the sand +hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle horses was watering. +The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the range, fully fifteen +miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle stock must be brought in, +the day's work required riding a wide circle. Skirting the sand dunes, +by early noon all the horses were in hand, save the band of thirty. +There was no occasion for all hands to assist in bringing in the absent +ones, and a consultation resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the +task, while Sargent returned home with the horses already gathered. + +The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours after +parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The brothers knew +every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid condition, they started +homeward, driving the loose mounts before them. The most direct course +to headquarters was taken, which would carry the cavalcade past the +springs and the upper winter quarters. The latter was situated in the +brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt turns of the creek, until its near +approach, shutting out a western view of the deserted dug-out. The +cavalcade was drifting home at a gentle trot, but on approaching The +Wagon, a band of ponies was sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. +The boys veered their horses, taking to the western divide, and on +gaining it, saw below them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, +around the springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos. + +Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their surprise, +all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the Indians came +tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them running for their +ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked leader signaled to the +brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment with the boys, who conversed +in whispers, never halting on their course, and when the Indians reached +their ponies, every brave dashed up to the encampment. A short parley +followed, during which signaling was maintained by the old Indian, +evidently a chief; but the boys kept edging away, and the old brave +sprang on a pony and started in pursuit, followed by a number of +his band. + +The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their mounts, shook +out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started the loose horses in a +mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to headquarters, and their +mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy saddles and the day's work, +were none too fresh, while the Indians rode bareback and were not +encumbered by an ounce of extra clothing. + +The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead of taking +to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued and pursuers in +plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so the loose horses +were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping clear of the whizzing +ropes. But after the first wild dash, the remuda began to scatter, and +the Indians gained on the cavalcade, coming fairly abreast and not over +four hundred yards distant. + +"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off from +headquarters!" + +"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. "Don't +let these loose horses turn into the valley." + +The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The meanderings +of the latter were crossed and recrossed without halting, while the +watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by dry washes and coulees, +thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. The race wore on with varying +advantage, and when near halfway to headquarters, the Indians turned up +the slope as if to verify Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a +half-dozen of the loose horses cut off from the band and turned down the +slope in plain sight of the pursuers. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY] + +"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. "Climbing +that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where we have the +best of it." + +The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept past the +abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level stretch on +the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the pursuers, baffled in +cutting them off, turned again into the valley. + +"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward glance. + +"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, and +ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice of horses +would not appease their pursuers. + +The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the brothers dipped +from sight of the Indians. The act confused the latter, who scaled the +divide, only to find the objects of their chase a full half-mile in the +lead, but calling on the last reserve in their fagged horses. The +pursuers gradually closed the intervening gap; but with the advantage of +knowing every foot of the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried +them into the valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a +straight stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the +boys dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses. + +"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. "Indians have +been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, Jack!" + +Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as Sargent +left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, and showed +splendid action in reaching the dug-out. + +Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating rifle, +while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to unearth the +story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre revealed the +Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and parleying among +themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to be unarmed, and on +Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, the old brave, simply +held up his hand. + +"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and signaled +in the leader. + +The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his followers +behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his wrinkled visage. +He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty breech-clout a greasy, grimy +letter, and tendered it to Sargent. + +The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter. + +"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine Ridge +Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian Territory. The +agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a peaceful Indian, and has +his permission to leave the reservation. He hopes that nothing but +kindness will be shown the old chief in his travels, and bespeaks the +confidence of any white settlers that he may meet on the way. You boys +must have been scared out of your wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show +you this letter." + +Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook hands +with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone Wolf, and on +returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor was burdened with +pickled beef and such other staples as the cow-camp afforded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HARVEST ON THE RANGE + + +Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone four days. +The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, but constant +inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose holdings consisted of +stock cattle. Three men were secured, their services not being urgently +required on the home ranch until the fall branding, leaving only a cook +and horse wrangler to be secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a +homesteader and his boy, anxious for work, and the two were engaged. + +"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. "It +gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first shipment +with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little green at first, +but they're willing, and that masters any task. We'll have to be patient +with them--we were all beginners once. Any man who ever wrestled with a +homestead ought to be able to cook." + +"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man like +settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. In the +West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability to use +baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide." + +The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. Within +a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with unerring +nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to another. The +double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their former range; but in +order to quicken the work, any beeves of that class found below were +drifted above headquarters. It was a distinct advantage to leave the +herd undisturbed, and with the first shipment drifted to one end of the +range, a small round-up or two would catch all marketable beeves. + +The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and wrangler +were initiated into their respective duties at once. The wagon was +equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and an ample mount +allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted over the saddle +stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task daunted their +numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as the work was fully +understood, the concerted efforts of all relieved him of any concern, +except in arranging the details. The ranch had fallen heir to a +complete camp kit, with the new wagon, and with a single day's +preparations, the shipping outfit stood ready to move on an +hour's notice. + +It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that Wells +Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. Sargent had +figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to execute a shipment, +and was rather impatient to try out the outfit in actual field work. + +"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a little +swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct the cook and +wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real thing." + +Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning to gather +beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp." + +"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced Sargent. +"Roll your blankets in the morning, boys." + +A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys were +impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your double-wintered +beeves on Saturday's market." + +"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The wagon +and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the messenger +order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be on +Saturday's market." + +Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier returning to +the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown out from the old +winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle rendered them lazy, +half the horsemen halted until the other sighted the grove above. As +early as advisable, the gradual circle was begun, turning the cattle +into the valley, concentrating, and by slowly edging in, the first +round-up of the day was thrown together, numbering, range run, fully six +hundred head. Two men were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell +volunteered to watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other +three to cut out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. +A short hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and when +cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was reflected +in every beef. + +The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed nearly +double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of the beeves +was made, which overran in numbers the necessary shipment. They were +extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car was the limit, and it +became necessary to trim or cull back to the desired number. Sargent and +Joel passed on every rejected beef, uniform weight being desirable, +until the shipment stood acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish. + +The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without delay. +Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, and a grazing +pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good season. The day's +work consisted in merely pointing and drifting the cattle forward, +requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help to initiate the cook and +wrangler in their field duties. Joel had been a close observer of the +apparent ease with which a cook discharged his duty, frequently halting +his wagon on a moment's notice, and easily preparing a meal for an +outfit of trail men within an hour. The main secret lay in the +foresight, in keeping his work in advance, and Joel lent every +assistance in coaching his cook to meet the emergency of any demand. + +Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of horses had +seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and attention was +called to observing each individual horse and the remuda as a whole. For +instance, in summer, a horse grazes against the breeze, and if the +remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, the wind holding from the +same quarter during the night, a practical wrangler would know where to +find his horses at dawn. The quarter of the breeze was therefore always +noted, any variation after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the +wind, turning the course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were +leaders among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy had no +fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his leave-taking was +gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling alone in the open. + +"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to the +father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer ends, he'll +know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's nothing like knowing +your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; know their spirit, know them +in health, lame and wounded. If a horse neighs at night, know why; if +one's missing in the morning, name him like you would an absent boy +at school." + +The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. The +beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep in +night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three guards +stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd off its bed +at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through the noon hours. + +An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening before +loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into the station +in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get the shipping +details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, having been +ordered on from Trail City. + +"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for a +special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a local +freight from here, but I showed him there were other train shipments to +follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another one to my old man +done the work. Those old boys know how to pull the strings. A special +train has been ordered, and you can name your own hour for leaving in +the morning. I have a man with me; send us in horses and we'll help you +corral your beeves." + +Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two horses +were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra men joined +the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. An early hour +was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in promptly, and the +first shipment of the year was cut into car lots and loaded out during a +morning hour. + +Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was noticeable +around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting for a passenger +schedule, there was billing to be done and contracts to execute, +telegrams of notification to be sent the commission firm, and general +instructions to the beef outfit. Joel and Sargent were to accompany the +shipment, and on starting, while the engineer and conductor were +comparing their running orders, Sargent called out from the rear of the +caboose:-- + +"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. "Here's +two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take some candy +home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you can have my +little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you can have all my +other playthings." + +The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned homeward. +Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and the remainder +of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. Manly had been +away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and Dell rode the range, +pending the return of the absent. Under ideal range conditions, the +cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, having rounded into form +beyond belief. + +"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the range; +"they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with a hardiness +that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they repay every debt. +Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will almost wipe the slate. +Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent +on making it that my old man simply gave in. And now you're going to +make a fortune out of these Lazy H's. No wonder us fool Texans love +a cow." + +The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only topped +the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but topped it in +price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two dollars a head!" + +Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said Joel, +"the commission firm will order the trains and send us a practical +shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to rush our +shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays to be on +time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these railroad +passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. If any one has +to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and leave the cattle +to follow." + +The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome asset. The +first consignment from the ranch gave the men a field-trial, and now +that the actual shipping season was at hand, an allotment of horses was +made. The numbers of the remuda admitted of mounting every man to the +limit, and with their first shipment a success, the men rested +impatiently awaiting orders. + +The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' later +date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for fulfillment. The +outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the evening before, and by +noon two round-ups had yielded twenty car-loads of straight Lazy H +beeves. When trimmed to their required numbers, twenty-two to the car, +they reflected credit to breeder and present owner. + +In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was no +apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at evening +and morning, brought the herd within summons of the shipping yards on +time. That the beeves might be favored, they were held outside for the +night, three miles from the corral, but an early sun found them safely +inside the shipping pens. Two hours later, the full train was en route +to market, in care of a practical shipper. + +On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to the +commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour after +the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the shipment, was +received from Mr. Stoddard. + +"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the last +cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two herds on the +market this year, one at Trail City and the other at Ogalalla, and he +may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You have a pass; you can +catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake the cattle train in time to +see the beeves unloaded." + +"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling through his +pockets for the forgotten pass. + +"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, single +ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. Same range, +same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly safe in buying them +unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought last year, with the +advantage of a better season on the trail. All you need to do is to +agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are as honest as gold and +twice as good." + +"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with decision. +"If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train from the Lazy +H's. I'll be back in a day or two." + +Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. At dusk +he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market yards on schedule +time. The shipper's duty ceased with the unloading of the cattle, which +was easily completed before midnight, when he and his employer +separated. The market would not open until a late morning hour, +affording ample time to rest and refresh the beeves, and to look up +acquaintances in the office. + +Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first stir of +the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even arrived, he +was hanging around the office of the commission firm. The expected +shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm much earlier than +usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. Mr. Stoddard was +summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the hearty greeting between +the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual occupation. + +The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an interested +party left the commission office and sauntered forth to watch the beeves +cross the scale. It was the parting look of breeder, owner, and factor, +and when the average weight was announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to +the others. + +"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you last +summer?" + +"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel. + +"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the boys +who matured them. I must be an old fogy." + +"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission house. +"Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To be sure, +as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man can raise a +frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers aren't afraid of +a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the lion's share falls +to them." + +"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially quoted +the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly to your +northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse your Uncle +Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree." + +"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old factor. + +"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story that is +told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. He's my +customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day." + +The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each beef +was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the letter of +the bond, and each party to the contract respected his obligation. + +After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard and Joel +wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to find all +accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. The second +shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, and when the +canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned to the senior +member of the firm. + +"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same price +and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This quarantine raises +havoc with delivery." + +"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked the +senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist on a rigid +enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle cattle, and any +north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of health. If that's all +that stands in the way of a trade, our firm will use its good offices." + +"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take your +herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on the +Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. This firm +is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," he concluded, +turning to the member present. + +"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any confidence +reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the quarantine +authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he requested, turning to +a map and indicating the shipping station. + +Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. The +Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the north, with +unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado. + +"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the only +cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the bill of +health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry in your +other shipments, and the railroad can use its influence--it'll want +cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be restocked." + +There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was sent to +Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the beef outfit, to +hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home that night, and the +next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from the Beaver, with a +perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It was early harvest on the +cattle ranges, and those who were favored with marketable beef were +eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall shipments. + +The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report provoked +argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men lounged around +the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit. + +"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the lads from +the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle without seeing +them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not this one of old man +Vivian's boys! Oh, no!" + +"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. "Your +view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your tickets +cost somewhere between four and six bits." + +Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, gazed at +the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how your folks +bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow is a cow, a steer +is a steer, according to his age, and so on down to the end of the +alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and there's no occasion for +seeing them. If you are laboring under the idea that my old man would +use any deception to sell a herd, you have another guess coming. He'd +rather lose his right hand than to misrepresent the color of a cow. He's +as jealous of his cattle as a miller is of his flour. These boys are his +customers, last fall, this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he +wanted them, Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen." + +The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on schedule +time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the side track, and +an engine and crew could be summoned on a few hours' notice. If +corralled the night before, passing trains were liable to excite the +beeves, and thereafter it became the usual custom to hold outside and +safely distant. + +The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping operations. +Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at sunrise on the +morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started homeward. + +"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," said Joel +to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch at headquarters. +Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make camp at the lower +tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of Lazy H's. The rest of +the outfit will follow, once these cattle are loaded out. You might have +a late supper awaiting us--about ten o'clock to-night." + +The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut into car +lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the loading began. +A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the dusty horsemen +mounted and clattered into the straggling hamlet. + +The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the first +running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful lunch. The +horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again took up their +former road gait. An evening halt was made on the Prairie Dog, where an +hour's grazing was again allowed, the time being wholly devoted to +looking into the future. + +"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining his +plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this creek, in +case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered nook, cache a +little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the cattle break the +line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning and check them. It +beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a twenty-mile start. We +could lash our blankets on a pack horse and ride it night or day." + +"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could almost +eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is surely a +meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef shipping's on in full +blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting on the Beaver." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LIVING IN THE SADDLE + + +The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning horsemen +safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for the task of +the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment would come from the +flotsam of the year before, many of which were heavy beeves, intended +for army delivery, but had fallen footsore on the long, drouthy march. +The past winter had favored the lame and halt, and after five months of +summer, the bulk of them had matured into finished beef. + +By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers were +enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were kept, but +had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have rendered a +statement from memory of returns on the double and single wintered, as +well as on the purchased cattle. Sale statements were furnished by the +commission house, and by filing these, an account of the year's +shipments, each brand separate, could be made up at the end of +the season. + +The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, was now +happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as their +portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose the class of +cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The range had proven +itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter would carry only +sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings of cattle. + +"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at breakfast, "I'd +stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter every hoof. Look +over those sale statements and you'll see what two winters mean. That +first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, and yet they netted seven +dollars a head less than those rag-tag, double-wintered ones. There's a +waste that must be saved hereafter." + +"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof that has +the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three two-year-old steers +to take his place. It may take another year or two to shape up our +cattle, but after that, every hoof must be double-wintered." + +An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the first +round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves without any +excitement was fully understood, and to gather a shipment without +disturbing those remaining was a task that required patience and +intelligence. Men on the outside circle merely turned the cattle on the +extremes of the range; they were followed by inner horsemen, and the +drag-net closed at a grazing pace, until the round-up halted on a +few acres. + +The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last course in +the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a mixed round-up. +On the present work, those horses which had proven apt were held in +reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle was quieting down, the +remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to four cutting horses. The +average cow can dodge and turn quicker than the ordinary horse, and only +a few of the latter ever combine action and intelligence to outwit the +former. Cunning and ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a +perfect rein, coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of +range mounts--the cutting horse. + +Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent took him +in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered the herd. "Now, +I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you cut them out. All you +need to do is to rein that horse down on your beef, and he'll take him +out of the herd. Of course you'll help the horse some little; but if you +let too many back, I'll call our wrangler and try him out. That horse +knows the work just as well as you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over +your beef." + +The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, and only +a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. Dell made a +record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an hour, and only +letting one reënter the herd. The latter was a pony-built beef, and +after sullenly leaving the herd, with the agility of a cat, he whirled +right and left on the space of a blanket, and beat the horse back into +the round-up. Sargent lent a hand on the second trial, and when the beef +saw that resistance was useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away +to join those selected for shipment. + +"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you out. +Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit horse could +turn him. And he showed you." + +"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the herd, +quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef reaches the +edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop out like +door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as rigid as ropes, +and he touches the ground as if he was walking on eggs. Look at him now; +goes poking along as if he was half asleep." + +"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you can +strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your steer, +that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king pin--that's +royalty." + +A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of beeves. +They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require reclassing +before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish were fully up to +standard, but the manner in which they were acquired left them uneven, +their ages varying from four to seven years. + +"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves had +been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. Instead of +five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this year's shipment +from crumbs will net you double that amount. The first gathering of beef +will square the account with every thirsty cow you watered last summer." + +An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The shipment +must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within half a mile of +the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and Sargent. The +contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and in order to have +them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be cut into a class by +themselves, leaving the remainder neat and uniform. A careful hour's +work resulted in seven car-loads of extra heavy beeves, which were +corralled separately and in advance of the others, completing a long day +in the saddle. + +Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A permit from +the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due to the influence +of the commission house and others, admitting the through herd, then en +route from Ogalalla. The grant required a messenger to meet the herd +without delay, and Dell volunteered his services as courier. Darkness +fell before supper was over and the messenger ready. + +"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his brother, +"and those through cattle can come in the day we gather our last train. +We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't reached the +Republican, push ahead until you meet it." + +A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the herd to +follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite our +middle tank?" + +"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count and +receive them." + +Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely home +to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon to-morrow. +If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll drop down on +you in a day and a half." + +The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and advice +followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the others threw +themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning found the outfit +astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon and remuda were +started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping instructions were +merely a repetition of previous consignments, and the train had barely +left the station when the cavalcade rode to overtake the commissary. + +The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest was +allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the cook and +wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below headquarters. +We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the creek. Our only +round-up to-morrow will be well above the old winter corral. It's our +last gathering of beef, and we want to make a general round-up of the +range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so that it'll be late when we +reach camp." + +The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted the +Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that spring, was +less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering off there, the +drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and a general drift +begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits of the range, pointed +the cattle into the valley, and by moving forward and converging as the +evening advanced, a general drift was maintained. The pace was barely +that of grazing, and as darkness approached, all cattle on the lower end +of the range were grazed safely above the night camp and left adrift. + +The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and threes. +There was little danger of the cattle returning to their favorite range +during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an early hour in the +morning the drag-net was again thrown out from camp. Headquarters was +passed before the horsemen began encountering any quantity of cattle, +and after passing the old winter corral, the men on the points of the +half-circle were sent to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the +middle of the forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle +naturally turned into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete +circles brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle. + +Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner was +waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders rang out. +"Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh horses," said +Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and cutting out will +be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the beeves, and that will turn +the rest of us free to watch the round-up and cut out." + +By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to cut out +the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, while Sargent +and an assistant would confine their selections to the single-wintered +ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally his own work, even +car-loads were required, and a total would constitute the shipment. The +cutting out began quietly; but after a nucleus of beeves were selected, +their numbers gained at the rate of three to five a minute, while the +sweat began to reek from the horses. + +Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his services +to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was relieved from +guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of Manly. A steady +stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a comparison of figures was +made. Manly was limited to one hundred and twenty head, completing an +even thousand shipped from the brand, and lacking four, was allowed to +complete his number. Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim +the general herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was +all that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference resulted +in cutting two loads extra. + +"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said Sargent, as he +dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. "Any aged steers +left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their way to hold another +year. Turn the round-up adrift." + +After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general herd up +the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in corralling +his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the beeves were +grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a night at headquarters +in some time, the wagon serving as a substitute, and orders for evening +freed all hands except two men on herd with the beeves. + +The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel and +Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting the main +herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and relieved from +further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, were arranged for the +night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up the creek and freed near +Hackberry Grove, and on returning to overtake the beeves, the two +horsemen crossed a spur of the tableland, jutting into the valley, +affording a perfect view of the surrounding country. + +With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to a halt. +Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the plain, hung an +ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a glance. + +Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the Republican," +said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from Ogalalla. The +pitch of their dust shows they're trailing south." + +The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running train +and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a distance, pitches +upward from a horizon line, and the moving direction of train or herd is +easily read by an observant plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed +on reaching headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, +the latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the +new trail. + +The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. He +protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, even to +looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said he, "and it's +up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering around all summer +with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, I'll take orders from no +one. We made rather a forced drive from the Republican, and I want a +good night's rest for both the herd and myself. Ten o'clock in the +morning will be early enough to tender the cattle for delivery. In the +mean time, our pilot, the red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. +As for myself, I'm going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls +or wakes me in the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a +right smart of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling." + +Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the herd in +presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves were grazed +up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged for the night, +which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a matter of precaution, a +dead-line must be maintained between the wintered and the through +cattle; and as Manly was to remain another year, he and an assistant +were detailed to stay at headquarters. A reduced mount of horses was +allowed them, and starting the beeves at daybreak, the wagon and remuda +followed several hours later. + +The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon when the +through herd was reached, grazed and watered to surfeiting, and a single +glance satisfied Joel Wells that the cattle fully met every requirement. +The question of age was disposed of as easily as that of quality. + +"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the foreman, +"and each age was held separate until the herds were made up. I started +with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, with ten head +extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our count on leaving +Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing to class or count +them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the herd." + +Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the scattered +cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a straight +count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived his intent to +classify the cattle. + +"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm going to +class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and Manly count +against Sargent and myself." + +A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing formation, +the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the open the +difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance in quieting +the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and the count +attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off a number of +the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. Thereafter, the trail +outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, who sat their horses in +speechless intensity, as the column filed through at random. Each man +used a string, containing ten knots, checking the hundreds by slipping +the knots, and when the last hoof had passed in review, the quiet of a +long hour was relieved by a general shout, when the trail outfit dashed +up to know the result. + +"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as the +quartette rode together. + +"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in for good +measure. What's your count?" + +"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered Sargent, +turning to Joel. + +"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy. + +The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young fellow," said +he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. If you bought these +cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be safe in receiving them. +We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and fifteen hundred threes, and +any overplus falls to the red-headed pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud +would call a Texas count and classification. Shake out your horses; +dinner's waiting." + +There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an assistant, and +an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of whom volunteered from +the through outfit. The foreman was invited to move up to headquarters +and rest to his heart's content, but in his anxiety to report to his +employer, the invitation was declined. + +"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the railroad +until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do is to get in +touch with my Uncle Dudley." + +"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" sputtered Manly, +as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the beef herd. + +"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If this +shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City and pick +up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. Until you see +or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your cattle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INDEPENDENCE + + +The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the beeves. +Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, and on the +arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in classifying it +for market and corralling the different grades of cattle. + +Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment was +safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the morning. +An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a wire from the +west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the telegram to Joel; +"wants all three of us to come into the city." + +"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear enough. +There's an understanding between us. At the earliest convenience, after +the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and draw up the final papers. +We'll all go in with this shipment." + +"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?" + +"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the cattle +train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the outfits at +the new trail market." + +"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of riding +horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and let me put +my little feet under a table once more." + +The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The outfits +received their orders, and at the usual hour in the morning, the +shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a saddle, Dell was +walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper in charge, riding on +the engine, or hungering for the rare stories with which the trail +foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed like a brief hour, the +train threading its way past corn fields, country homes, and scorning to +halt at the many straggling villages that dotted the route. + +It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The present, +their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen hundred +beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their operations in +cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, could be condensed +into a simple statement. The brothers could barely wait the intervening +hours, and when the train reached the market and they had retired for +the night, speculation ran rife in planning the future. And amid all +their dreams and air castles, in the shadowy background stood two simple +men whose names were never mentioned except in terms of loving +endearment. + +Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. "They're all +good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a prince. He gave us our +start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we can never pay it. And he +never owned a hoof himself." + +"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us our +chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of making bound +boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are to-day." + +"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves by the +train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand." + +An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had crossed +the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place during the +afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. The execution of +a new contract was a mere detail; but when the chief bookkeeper handed +in a statement covering the shipments of this and the previous year, a +lull in the gayety was followed by a moment of intense interest. The +account showed a balance of sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of +Wells Brothers! + +"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. Stoddard, +amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; we're all going out +to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains on that market, and the +boys want to stock their range fully." + +"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. "And if +the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't hesitate to +draw on us. The manner in which they have protected their credit +entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come first. Their +prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies before you boys, and +we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in touch with us; we may +hear of something to your advantage." + +"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring Texas cattle +into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel. + +"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not be able +to, but in securing business, railroads look years ahead." + +A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning found +their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old trail market +of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild sunflower, was +passed like a way station. The new market was only a mile over the state +line, in Colorado, and on nearing their destination the party +drew together. + +"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, "and I want +you to understand that there's no obligation to even look at them. Mr. +Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men have not been seen +since the herds passed north in June. But I'll help you buy any cattle +you want." + +In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following their +fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape up our +holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For that reason, we +prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your remnant; there would be +no occasion to rebrand, which is an advantage." + +The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the outer +portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. The Arkansas +River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to the main stream, +affording abundant water to the herds on sale, while a bountiful range +surrounded the market. Shipping pens, branding chutes, and every +facility for handling cattle were complete. + +The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean time, it +became rumored about that the two boys who had returned with Mr. +Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of cattle. The +presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of protection around the +brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who were made acquainted with +his protégés and their errand freely discussed. + +"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a group of +his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and another at +Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest Kansas. Just +shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had them on +yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about three +thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter of credit is +good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle myself. They +naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an interest in the boys. +Their outfit ought to be in by to-morrow." + +Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, and every +attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a morning's +drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been carefully looked +over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only a few herds possessed +their original numbers, none of which were acceptable to the buyers, +while the smaller ones frequently contained the desired grade and age. + +"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. Stoddard, +in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are tired out, +disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if you'll buy out our +little remnants and send us home--well, we'd almost let you name the +price. Unless my herds are under contract, this is my last year on +the trail." + +The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred head. +They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and as an +inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser age, and +priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the Beaver. On +range markets, there was a difference in the selling value of the two +ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as one third of the cattle +would have classed as threes, Joel waived his objection to their ages. + +"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your outfits +home, but you hang around until we make up our herd." + +"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice would be +to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer makes them all +alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come out of the kinks, +and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps your cattle quiet and on +the home range. You might keep an eye open for any bargains in +she stuff." + +"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought to have +a cow to every ten or fifteen steers." + +"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and knows cattle +right down to the split in their hoof. With his and your judgment, we +ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few days." + +The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The next +morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the through +outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a detail, and the +remainder of the men sent home by rail. In acquiring a nucleus, Wells +Brothers fell heir to a temporary range and camp, which thereafter +became their headquarters. + +A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to Sargent, +and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his best efforts to +bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in earnest, on the +different fragments acceptable in age and quality. Prices on range +cattle were nearly standard, at least established for the present, and +any yielding on the part of drovers was in classing and conceding ages. +Bargaining began on the smaller remnants, and once the buyers began to +receive and brand, there was a flood of offerings, and the herd was made +up the second day. The ---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast +as received, and when completed, the herd numbered a few over +thirty-four hundred head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings +was not overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased. + +"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but we're only +going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had better hold +over the line in Colorado until after the first frost." + +"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's sure." + +"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that will take +us home, with or without a bill of health." + +The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and the herd +started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week later it crossed +the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the herd, returning to their +local station. A haying outfit was engaged, placed under the direction +of Manly, and after spending a few days at headquarters, the young +cowman returned to the railroad. + +The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight danger in +using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; and after a +conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the country between +their range and the Colorado line. The first herd of cattle had located +nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the dead-line; and taking a +pack horse, Joel and Manly started to explore the country between the +upper tributaries of the Beaver and the Colorado line. + +A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of the first +day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of which was +back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On resuming their scout +in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, admitting of an immense survey +of country, but not until evening was water in any quantity encountered. +The scouts were beginning to despair of finding water for the night, +when an immense herd of antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an +easy gallop and disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game +trail, a perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. +A venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured. + +The glare of the plain required early observation. The white haze, heat +waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out distinct objects +during the day. On leaving the friendly sand hills, the horsemen bore +directly for the timber on the Republican, which was sighted the third +morning, and reached the river by noon. + +No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the new and +old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging from their +hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new crossing on the +river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented observations; and as +they followed the high ground along the Republican, at early evening +indistinct objects were made out on the border of a distant mirage. + +The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the optical +illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, forests and +white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn aside and rest. But +the allurement of the mirage was an old story, and holding the objects +in view, they jogged on, halting from time to time as the +illusions lifted. + +Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, the +objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted Manly. +"We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!" + +"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the valley! +above that motte of cotton-woods!" + +"It's a camp! Come on!" + +The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the scouts +advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was noticeable, and on a +far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. On reaching the cattle, a +single glance was given, when the brands told the remainder of +the story. + +A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, and after +hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: "After leaving +the Republican," said he, "there's water between here and home in two +places. None of them are over thirty miles apart--a day and a half's +drive. I have a bill of health for these cattle, and turn the herd down +the river in the morning." + +The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. The herd +had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water in abundance, +the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from home. There was no +object in waiting any great distance from headquarters, and after a +day's travel down the Republican, a tack was made for the sand hills. + +A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, followed by +a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had been sighted was +reached at evening the next day. + +It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was decided to +isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp was within easy +touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five men, the commissary, +and half the remuda, the remainder returned to the Beaver valley. The +water would hold the cattle, and even if a month elapsed before frost +lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy every freedom. + +The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the Republican +were paid for their services, commended for their faithfulness, and went +their way. Preparations for winter were the next concern; and while +holding the dead-line, plans for two new line-camps were outlined, one +below the old trail crossing and the other an emergency shelter on the +Prairie Dog. Forage had been provided at both points, and in outlining +the winter lines, Joel submitted his idea for Manly's approval. + +"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the Beaver +valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his feet. "We'll +have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break through during a +storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the Prairie Dog. In case +that line is broken, we can drop down to the railroad and make another +attempt to check any drift. And as a last resort, whether we hold the +line or not, we'll send an outfit as far south as the Arkansas River, +and attend the spring round-ups from there north to the Republican. We +have the horses and men, and no one can throw out a wider drag-net than +our outfit. Let the winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead +when spring comes." + +The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except in its +new environment, their occupation was as old as the human race, our +heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They belonged to a +period in the development of our common country, dating from a day when +cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth of our national domain. They +and their kind were our pioneers, our empire builders; for when a cowman +pushed into some primal valley and possessed it with his herd, his ranch +became an outpost on our frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their +ranges were controlled without investment, their cattle roamed the +virgin pastures of an unowned land. + +Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the course +of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and uncertain +outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but have arisen +triumphant over every storm. From their humble beginning, chronicled +here, within two decades the brothers acquired no less than seven +ranches in the Northwest, while their holdings of cattle often ran in +excess of one hundred thousand head. The trail passed away within two +years of the close of this narrative; but from their wide acquaintance +with former drovers, cattle with which to restock their ranches were +brought north by rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring +trusty men; and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors +found ready employment with their former protégés. And to-day, in the +many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the arid +regions, among the directors of their companies the names of J.Q. +Forrest and John P. Priest may be found. + +A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis of the +West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, gave way to +the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler crept up the valley, +was repulsed again and again by the plain, only to renew his assault +until success crowned his efforts. It was then that the brothers saw +their day and dominion passing into the hands of another. But instead of +turning to new fields, they remained with the land that nurtured and +rewarded them, an equally promising field opening in financing vast +irrigation enterprises and in conserving the natural water supply. + +Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes wrested from +the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of life, while the +opportunities of a thrifty country invite their assistance and +leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested in every +development of their state, preferring those avenues where heroic +endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the political arena. + +Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure of +personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, famed +for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, paid one of +our heroes the following tribute:-- + +"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive chair. We +are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state seems adrift, +without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In casting about for a +governor who would fully meet all requirements, one name stands alone. +Joel Wells can give M---- a business administration. Educated in the +rough school of experience, he has fought his way up from a poor boy on +the plains to an enviable leadership in the many industries of the +state. He could bring to the executive office every requirement of the +successful business man, and impart to his administration that mastery +which marks every enterprise of Wells Brothers...." + +The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to adorn +this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his chance in +life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. Material nature is +prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass under our feet, or in +harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our success. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: + +• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + +• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + +• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ + +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™'s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org. + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact. + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate. + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org. + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + diff --git a/old/12791-0.zip b/old/12791-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..730d783 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-0.zip diff --git a/old/12791-h.zip b/old/12791-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cde3e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h.zip diff --git a/old/12791-h/12791-h.htm b/old/12791-h/12791-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..14192e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/12791-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7803 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +p.caption {font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Wells Brothers</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Andy Adams</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12791]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 29, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Charlie Kirschner and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS ***</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0001-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0001-1.jpg" width="700" height="487" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON.</p> +</div> + +<h1>WELLS BROTHERS</h1> + +<h2>THE YOUNG CATTLE KINGS</h2> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>ANDY ADAMS</h3> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="350" height="314" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<h4><i>Published March 1911</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">III. THE BOTTOM RUNG</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">V. A FALL OF CRUMBS</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_X">X. GOOD FIGHTING</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI. HOLDING THE FORT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII. A WINTER DRIFT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII. A WELCOME GUEST</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV. AN ILL WIND</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV. WATER! WATER!</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII. "THE WAGON"</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE</a><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII. INDEPENDENCE</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0001-1.jpg">THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0106-1.jpg">JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0164-1.jpg">DELL WELLS.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus0310-1.jpg">THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY.</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2>WELLS BROTHERS</h2> + +<h2>THE YOUNG CATTLE KINGS</h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>WAIFS OF THE PLAIN</h3> + +<p>The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for +the Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran +drover, Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway +between the former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious +mishap befell Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and +the horse wrangler, who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, +reckless to the point of injury, the pulse of healthy manhood +beating a constant alarm to rough contest.</p> +<p>The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had +overtaken the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. +During the evening, a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when +the stranger expressed a wish to secure a specimen of the bird for +its splendid plumage. On Forrest's own suggestion, his being a +long-range pistol and the covey wary, the two exchanged belts. The +visitor followed the flock, stealing within range a number of +times, and emptying the six-shooter at every chance. On securing a +fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the herd, elated over +his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before returning the +belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of five +cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and +pistol were returned to their owner.</p> +<p>Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while +the outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in +pastoral contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the +morning's work, when the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly +remarked: "If everybody's ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; +it's high time we were in the saddle. Of course, that means the +parting tussle between Quince and the wrangler. It would be a shame +to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- they remind me so much +of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in and worry each other +a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. Fly at it, or we +mount."</p> +<p>The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the +men swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility +of a tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him +to the ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had +barely time to turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the +two crashed against the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was +discharged. The men dismounted instantly, the wrangler eased the +victim to the ground, and when the outfit gathered around, the +former was smothering the burning clothing of his friend and +bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was the first +indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found that +the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground.</p> +<p>The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular +remarks of the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly +recalled to the surrounding group, while the negligence which +caused the accident was politely suppressed. The stranger, +innocently unaware of any mistake on his part, lent a valuable hand +in stanching the blood and in washing and binding up the wounds. No +bones were injured, and with youth and a buoyant constitution, +there was every hope of recovery.</p> +<p>However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No +one could recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican +River, unless down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the +visitor came to the rescue. He was positive that some two years +before, an old soldier had taken a homestead five or six miles +above the trail crossing on the Beaver. He was insistent, and the +foreman yielded so far as to order the herd grazed forward to the +Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in their front. All the +blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought into use, in making +a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan started, carrying +the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, the foreman +bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek.</p> +<p>The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be +correct. About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, +fringed with willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which +the homestead was located. The presence of the willows was an +indication of old beaver dams, which the settler had improved until +the water stood in long, placid pools. In response to their hail, +two boys, about fourteen and sixteen years of age, emerged from the +dug-out and greeted the horsemen. On inquiry, it proved that their +father had died during the previous winter, at a settlement on the +Solomon River, and the boys were then confronted with the necessity +of leaving the claim to avoid suffering want. It was also learned +that their mother had died before their father had taken the +homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight their own +battle.</p> +<p>The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were +bright-eyed and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. +Joel was the oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by +nature, with a shock of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in +height, the younger was the equal of his brother, talkative, and +frank in countenance. When made acquainted with the errand of the +trail boss, the older boy shook his head, but Dell stepped forward: +"Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of his hand, "but our garden +failed, and there won't be a dozen roasting-ears in that field of +corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it might make fodder. We expect +to pull out next week."</p> +<p>"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman.</p> +<p>"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's +pension was stopped. You see--"</p> +<p>"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can +help each other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter +and nurse this wounded man of mine--"</p> +<p>"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the +sooner we get out and find work the better."</p> +<p>"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail +man, now aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a +quarter of beef."</p> +<p>"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh +meat."</p> +<p>"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave +the money with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, +I'll unload my wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. +I can get more provision at the Republican River, and in the mean +time, something may turn up."</p> +<p>The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the +necessity of accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every +suggestion, but his brother was tactful, questioning and combating +the men, and looking well to the future. A cold and unfriendly +world, coupled with misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his +years, while the younger one was sympathetic, trustful, and +dependent.</p> +<p>"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," +said Dell to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in +time for corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth +fifty cents."</p> +<p>"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this +wounded man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell +how soldiers died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we +have to go, we might as well go at once."</p> +<p>According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the +wayfaring man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good +Samaritan, the older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with +enthusiasm at the opportunity of rendering every assistance.</p> +<p>"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, +but it's because we're so poor and have nothing to offer."</p> +<p>"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let +me do the rest."</p> +<p>"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?"</p> +<p>"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll +leave two good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you +need to do is to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and +simply tell them you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don +Lovell's boys, and you can levy on them for all they have. It's +high time you were getting acquainted with these trail outfits. +Shelter this man of mine, and all will come out well in the end. +Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you boys, and he might take +you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, and he might take a +fancy to you two."</p> +<p>Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two +brothers reëntered the dug-out, and the men led their horses +down to the creek for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood +inside a wooden corral, a rickety wagon and a few rusty farming +implements were scattered about, while over all the homestead was +the blight of a merciless summer drouth.</p> +<p>"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail +boss to the stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this +water and range, in a few years they would be independent men. No +wonder that oldest boy is cautious. Just look around and see the +reward of their father's and their own labor. Their very home +denies them bread."</p> +<p>"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, +"when you suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only +argument that touched him."</p> +<p>"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have +several cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs +and the like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make +their hungry hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest +would make the ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving +them each a saddle pony; argue the matter, and try and win me +over."</p> +<p>The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when +scarcely halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to +meet them. "If you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," +earnestly said the boy, "we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to +be feverish at night, and ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can +sleep outside or in the stable."</p> +<p>"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter +I'll bet my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? +Why, you can have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the +outfit. I have a rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I +have a lurking suspicion that there are a few genuine goose-hair +pillows in the outfit, and you may pick and choose. They are all +yours for the asking."</p> +<p>The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for +entering the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. +When all agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their +horses, promising to fulfill their part of the covenant that +afternoon or evening.</p> +<p>Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is +all right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he +tried to shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. +Hereafter, in dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The +death of his parents has developed a responsibility in the older +boy which the younger one doesn't feel. That's about all the +difference in the two lads. You must deal gently with Joel, and +never offend him or expose his needs."</p> +<p>"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's +the name of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home +with those boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a +week he'll have those youngsters walking on clouds."</p> +<p>The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a +dust cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then +hidden behind the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On +every hand the undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and +the men rode forward at a leisurely pace.</p> +<p>"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail +foreman, arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. +This government ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, +robbing children, orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a +fair sample of the skin game the government's running--bets you one +hundred and sixty acres against fourteen dollars you can't hold +down a homestead for five years. And big as the odds look, in nine +cases out of ten, in this country, the government wins. It ought to +be convicted on general principles. Men are not to be pitied, but +it's a crime against women and children."</p> +<p>"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the +stranger; "you would kick if you were being hung. There's good in +everything. A few years of youthful poverty, once they reach +manhood, isn't going to hurt those boys. The school of experience +has its advantages."</p> +<p>"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next +few years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. +"Now, there's the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and +select a good camp, well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet +the commissary and herd. We'll have to lay over this afternoon, +which will admit of watering the herd twice to-day. Try and find +some shade."</p> +<p>The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman +hailed his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and +reported securing a haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook +to watch for a signal, at the hands of the stranger, indicating a +camp on the creek, he turned and awaited the arrival of the lead +cattle of the trailing column. Issuing orders to cover the +situation, he called off half the men, first veering the herd to +the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon and saddle +horses.</p> +<p>Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long +pool. A hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which +a tarpaulin was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered +canopy. Amid a fire of questions, the wounded man was lifted from +the wagon.</p> +<p>"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said +he appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there +is, I ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can +see your eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me +peevish. I want to feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, +tell it all over once more."</p> +<p>The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which +the foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and +making valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their +guest while he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after +the accident, by insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the +boys and bespeaking their protection.</p> +<p>The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew +that the hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the +same. "Very well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my +calf that's gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every +stranger that comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly +cow hands." He hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he +continued, "about this nester layout is those red-headed boys. And +these two are just about petting age. I can almost see them eating +sugar out of my hand."</p> +<p>After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of +medical aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had +returned and reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately +the destination of the stranger was a settlement on the Republican +River, and he volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night +and secure a surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile +calls. The owner of the herd, had he been present, would have +insisted on medical attention, the wounded man reluctantly +consented, and the stranger, carrying a hastily written letter to +Mr. Lovell, took his departure.</p> +<p>Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, +but in a roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the +one-room shack was bountifully provisioned, while the foreman +remained to await the arrival of a physician. The day had brought +forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from the dark hour of want to the +dawn of plenty, while the future was a sealed book. In addition to +the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung in the sod stable, while +two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the questioning boys.</p> +<p>"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as +their backs were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see +they are unfit for saddle, but with a little attention can be +cured--I'll show you how. You have an abundance of water, and after +I leave, wash their backs, morning and evening, and they'll be well +in a month. Since you are running a trail hospital, you want to +cater to man and beast. Of course, if you boys nurse this man +through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal to Mr. Lovell +to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case you return +to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here."</p> +<p>The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The +transformation seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was +toned and tempered by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day +had filled empty hearts with happiness, and when darkness fell, the +boys threw off all former reserve, and the bond of host and guest +was firmly established. Forrest, even, cemented the tie, by +dividing any needful attention between the boys.</p> +<p>"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the +presence of the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest +one Doc and the youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them +just plain Joel and Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor +bright, I never met a boy who can pour water on a wound, that seems +to go to the right spot, like Dell Wells. One day with another, +give me a red-headed boy."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER</h3> + +<p>The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in +the tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to +pouring water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had +reached a swollen condition by morning, and considerable anxiety +was felt over the uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned +the previous evening, it was possible that one might arrive by +noon, otherwise there was no hope before evening or during the +night.</p> +<p>"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor +comes from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and +save an hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to +the first divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it +when he went to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the +doctor a six or seven mile drive."</p> +<p>"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the +trail foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can +post the boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this +afternoon or evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the +stirrup straps on Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?"</p> +<p>"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired +the horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now +that a chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. +"Why, I can follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used +to go halfway to the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new +boots."</p> +<p>"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient +seems to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there +will be plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share."</p> +<p>The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after +the horse stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object +lesson to the boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting +the horse to be fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell +was allowed to ride past the tent for inspection.</p> +<p>"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell +halted before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think +that that boy was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle +poise, will you, Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is +slightly sun-burned. We must get him some boots. With that red +hair, he never ought to ride any other horse than a black +stallion."</p> + +<p>When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent +to intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided +the matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply +can't spare Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, +and we'll have to give it an occasional rubbing to keep the +circulation up. There's where Dell has the true touch; actually he +reminds me of my mother. She could tie a rag around a sore toe, in +a way that would make a boy forget all his trouble. Hold Joel a +minute."</p> +<p>The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded +man, and when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he +continued: "Now, Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with +you. Show them the brand on that horse you're riding, and give them +distinctly to understand, even if you are barefooted, that you are +one of Don Lovell's men. Of course you don't know him, but with +that old man, it's love me, love my dog. Get your dinner with the +outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the south. There's liable to +be another herd along any day, and we'll need a cow."</p> +<p>Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of +age; neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts +went out in manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the +other hand, a day had brought forth promise and fulfillment, from +strangers, to the boys, until the latter's confidence knew no +bounds. At random, the men virtually spoke of the cattle on a +thousand hills, until the boys fully believed that by merely waving +a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow walk forth. Where two +horses were promised, four had appeared. Where their little store +of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been multiplied many +fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with intrusion, a +tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, had risen +out of a dip in the plain.</p> +<p>There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any +discourtesy to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman +saddled his horse and accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully +reviewing the details of his errand. Left behind, and while rubbing +the wounded limb, Dell regaled his patient with a scrap of family +history. "Pa never let us boys go near the trail," said he. "It +seemed like he was afraid of you Texas men; afraid your cattle +would trample down our fields and drink up all our water. The herds +were so big."</p> +<p>"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, +"the owner would pay for it, which would be better than letting it +go to waste. One day's hot winds would absorb more water than the +biggest herd of cattle could drink. This ain't no farming +country."</p> +<p>"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this +season, and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me +rub your knee, there where the bullet skipped, between the +bandages."</p> +<p>The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning +farming for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," +said he, "was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given +them the water, with or without price, and bought any cripples or +sore-footed cattle. Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle +on these long drives, and he could have bought them for a song and +sung it himself. The buffalo grass on the divides and among these +sand hills is the finest winter grazing in the country. This water +that you are wasting would have yearly earned you one hundred head +of cripples. A month's rest on this creek and they would kick up +their heels and play like calves. After one winter on this range, +they would get as fat as plover. Your father missed his chance by +not making friends with the Texas trail men."</p> +<p>"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell.</p> +<p>"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, +you and Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. +Cast your bread upon the waters."</p> +<p>"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There +was a marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the +trail boss cantered up to the tent.</p> +<p>"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a +dim trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to +have built a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle +trail. In case the doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent +orders to fly a flag at the junction, and Joel to return home. But +if the doctor doesn't reach there until after darkness, he'll never +see the flag, and couldn't follow the trail if he did. We'll have +to send Joel back."</p> +<p>"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; +build it in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the +road."</p> +<p>"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to +Dell, "but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse +and turn him in the corral."</p> +<p>The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came +riding in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the +herd, a flag had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other +instructions delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance +to the ford on the Republican, and could figure to an hour, by +different saddle gaits, the necessary time to cover the distance, +even to Culbertson. Still there was a measure of uncertainty: the +messenger might have lost his way; there might not have been any +physician within call; accidents might have happened to horse or +rider,--and one hour wore away, followed by another.</p> +<p>Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six +o'clock. "It's my intention to follow him within an hour," said the +foreman, as the boy rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build +the fire as well as any one, and we'll return before midnight. +That'll give the doctor the last minute and the benefit of every +doubt."</p> +<p>The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over +the valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the +neigh of a horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers +when he sights a wagon or camp. Dell's come."</p> +<p>Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a +buckboard following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle +rattled up, led by the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a +battery of artillery. "This is the place, Doctor," said he, as if +dismissing a troop from cavalry drill.</p> +<p>The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had +left Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team +at the ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles +since sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," +said he, as he entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to +do. Your men with the herd told me how the accident happened." Then +to Forrest, "Son, think it'll ever happen again?"</p> +<p>"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," +replied Forrest.</p> +<p>"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: +they usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," +commented the doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the +examination proceeded, there was a running comment maintained, +bordering on the humorous.</p> +<p>"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would +allow the boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short +lecture on the danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a +loaded cartridge. The boys are young and may take the lesson +seriously, but you're wasting good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm +an old dog."</p> +<p>"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued +the doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. +There's an occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but +that's not in my department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry +for muscle, but fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is +just a simple case of treatment and avoiding complications. Six +weeks to two months and you can buckle on your six-shooter again. +Hereafter, better wear it on the other side, and if another +accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in each leg and level you +up."</p> +<p>"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," +protested Forrest.</p> +<p>"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with +a quiet wink at the others.</p> +<p>The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the +boys. Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance +of making friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the +purchase of disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the +boys were snugly in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd +to-day?--afraid of the cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former +subject was exhausted.</p> +<p>"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of +his bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other +folks."</p> +<p>Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not +shooting and galloping their horses?"</p> +<p>"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a +shot fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a +hair, and they changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I +could see, they wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely +cowboys, because they had over three thousand big beeves, and had +come all the way from Texas."</p> +<p>"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment.</p> +<p>"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The +column of cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city +street, and the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of +their own accord. Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no +one as much as looked at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. +The herd seemed so easy to handle."</p> +<p>"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell.</p> +<p>"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for +their places. Those in the lead were <i>point</i> men, those in the +middle were <i>swing</i> men, and the one who brought up the rear +was the <i>drag</i> man. Then there was the cook, who drove the +wagon, and the wrangler, who took care of the horses--over one +hundred and forty head. They call the band of saddle horses the +remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for relay--a relay of +horses."</p> +<p>"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would +buy us a cow from the next herd that passed."</p> +<p>"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the +Yellowstone River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the +smartest cattle! An hour before noon one of the point men gave a +shrill whistle, and the whole column of beeves turned aside and +began feeding. The men called it 'throwing the herd off the trail +to graze.' It was just like saying <i>halt</i>! to soldiers--like +we saw at that reunion in Ohio."</p> +<p>"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger +brother.</p> +<p>"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on +horseback. Stop asking foolish questions and go to sleep," +concluded Joel, with pitying finality, and turned to the wall.</p> +<p>"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" +There was challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no +answer. A seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight +over the other, in range cattle, and there was no common ground +between sleepy bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted +in the doctor, anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded +his assertion.</p> +<p>Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the +wounds. The doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged +otherwise. "Let's call it Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. +Besides, if I overtake the herd, I'll have to make a hand. Wait +until to-morrow, and we'll bear each other company. If another herd +shows up on the trail to-day, it may have a cow. We must make these +boys comfortable."</p> +<p>The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by +quarreling with his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel +rode out to the nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on +the upper Beaver. "That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, +"and where we get our wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the +bottom land has grown up with timber, some as big as a man's body. +It doesn't look very far away, but it takes all day to go and come, +hauling wood. There's big springs just above, and the water never +fails. That's what makes the trees so thrifty."</p> +<p>"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said +Priest, surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There +are the sand hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet +of grass."</p> +<p>"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had +to go to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and +what we could earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved +up; pa's service in the army counted on the residence required. It +doesn't matter now if we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is +to keep the taxes paid."</p> +<p>"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail +boss in fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you +boys only had the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on +shares, or buy young steers on a credit."</p> +<p>"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully +replied Joel.</p> +<p>"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly +replied the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of +your beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are +hunting a market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the +range, and the cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it."</p> +<p>"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in +his bewilderment.</p> +<p>"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and +every one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. +"Range is being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's +your chance. Water and grass, world without end."</p> +<p>Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older +man's advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The +grind of poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely +looked forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the +domain surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I +don't doubt your advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you +could, but Dell and I had better return to the settlements. Mr. +Quince will surely be well by fall."</p> +<p>"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman.</p> +<p>"I will," eagerly replied the boy.</p> +<p>"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you +are thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if +he knows any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to +stock it. In the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do +that?"</p> +<p>"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the +promise.</p> +<p>"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended +on securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows +all the drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until +the season ends. Now, don't fail to ask him."</p> +<p>"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that +control of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that +it had a value?"</p> +<p>"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never +lose sight of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten +thousand cattle, the year round, is as good as money in the +bank."</p> +<p>Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned +their horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the +southward, but were unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the +signal of an approaching herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that +he had instilled interest and inquiry into the boy's mind, which, +if carefully nurtured, might result in independence. They had +ridden several miles, discussing different matters, and when within +sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his horse. "Would you mind +repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, about control of a +range by prior rights?"</p> +<p>The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On +the range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates +back to the first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense +of equity and justice which has always existed among pastoral +people. In America it dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. +Among us Texans, a man's range is respected equally with his home. +By merely laying claim to the grazing privileges of public domain, +and occupying it with flocks or herds, the consent of custom gives +a man possession. It is an asset that is bought and sold, and is +only lost when abandoned. In all human migrations, this custom has +followed flocks and herds. Title to land is the only condition to +which the custom yields."</p> +<p>"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with +cattle, and hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated +the boy.</p> +<p>"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's +primal range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, +the settler, seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is +yours. Go in and win."</p> +<p>"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel.</p> +<p>"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. +That old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. +There's an old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now +if you have the will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince +will find the way. Try him, anyhow."</p> +<p>"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the +morning."</p> +<p>The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening +was spent in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, +Priest said to the doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd +like your opinion about these boys starting a little ranch on the +Beaver."</p> +<p>"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, +"there are too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise +nothing out here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are +you cowmen. You ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, +and your general health is actually discouraging to my profession. +Yes, I think I'll have to approve of the suggestion. A life in the +open, an evening by a camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I +wish I had my life to live over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of +Wells Brothers making a big success as ranchmen. They have health +and youth, and there's nothing like beginning at the bottom of the +ladder. In fact, the proposition has my hearty approval. Fight it +out, boys; start a ranch."</p> +<p>"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen +want to make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses +while I get breakfast. Come on."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE BOTTOM RUNG</h3> + +<p>An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, +as the Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity +of pastoral life affects its people, influencing their normal +natures into calm and tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected +start at sunrise, after breakfast the trail foreman languidly +sauntered out to the corral, followed by the boys.</p> +<p>The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you +think is detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun +is nearly an hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him +from the tent opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with +his quirt and chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they +are talking about?"</p> +<p>"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll +chance the subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow +with the boys, most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life +easy--the cows will calve in the spring."</p> +<p>Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss +put in an appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, +are you, Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile.</p> +<p>"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. +Still, I am some little distance from home, and have a family that +likes to see me occasionally."</p> +<p>The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest +to the boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable +to think of something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to +killing time, that old boy is the bell steer."</p> +<p>Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was +to intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance +among trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days +before, while passing that supply point, and it was a matter of +waiting until a herd should appear.</p> +<p>There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the +nearest swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working +overtime; the dust cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the +message, the sentinel's horse tore past the tent and was only +halted at the corral. "It's there!" he shouted, returning, peering +through the tent-flaps. "They're coming; another herd's coming. +It's in the dip behind the first divide. Shall I go? I saw it +first."</p> +<p>"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and +let's make a little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we +get a cow. Come in and we'll plot against the Texans."</p> +<p>With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, +Forrest continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk +the situation over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the +trouble is, we don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play +innocent and foxy. If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll +water in the Beaver about four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek +and keep your eagle eye open for a lone horseman, either at the +crossing or on the trail. That's the foreman, and that's the man we +want to see. He may be ten miles in the lead of his herd, and you +want to ride straight to him. Give him all the information you can +regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of Lovell's herds. +That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up to your +errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask +the foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your +work is over, except going back after the cow."</p> +<p>Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold +on," commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride +slowly, let your horse set his own pace, and don't come back +without your man. Make out that I'm badly wounded, and that you +feel uneasy that blood poisoning may set in."</p> +<p>The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of +the tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount +over level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the +horse, and before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came +in view of the anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the +horizon, the haze and heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view +that every object looked blurred and indistinct. Even the dust +cloud was missing; and pushing on a mile farther, he reined in +again. Now and then in the upper sky, an intervening cloud threw a +shadow over the plain, revealing objects more distinctly. For a +moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like prophecy +fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford!</p> +<p>In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a +fellow being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing +distance, greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. +There was water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no +pilot, the summons found a ready response, and the two were soon +riding up the Beaver in a jog trot.</p> +<p>The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon +had Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell +outfit," said the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. +Old man Don's a nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on +the trail. I've been expecting to hear something like this. If it +isn't rebranding their saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure +to be something worse. And now that flat-headed Quince Forrest +plows a fire-guard down his own leg with a six-shooter! Well, +wouldn't that sour sweet milk!"</p> +<p>"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his +pistol, and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge."</p> +<p>"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's +an old story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some +prowling tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this +short-horn. Yes, I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his +saddle and ride bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. +Rather shallow-brained to be allowed so far from home."</p> +<p>"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At +least Mr. Quince don't speak very highly of that man."</p> +<p>"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth +ever comes out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel +Quince is famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable +door. That other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of +Bibles, never to bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game +never repeats; the play never comes up twice alike. If that old +boy's gray matter ever comes to full bloom, long before his +allotted time, he'll wither away."</p> +<p>Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend +was weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either +Priest or Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming +faults of others that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even +questioned Dell with such an innocent countenance that the lad +withered before his glance, and became disheartened at the success +of the errand. Forced to the defense continually, on several +occasions Dell nearly betrayed the object of bringing the new man +to the homestead, but in each instance was saved by some fortunate +turn in the conversation. Never was sight more welcome than the +tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief from duty more +welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to the boy who +had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the object +of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust.</p> +<p>The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, +in order to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and +the flaps, rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, +Forrest watched the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, +the wounded man's greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old +Nat Straw," said he, extending his hand. "Here, I've been running +over in my mind the different trail bosses who generally go north +of the Platte River, but you escaped my memory. It must have gotten +into my mind, somehow, that you had married and gone back to +chopping cotton. Still driving for Uncle Jess Ellison, I +reckon?"</p> +<p>"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, +glancing at the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying +off, and trying to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You +must be getting doty."</p> +<p>"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged +that I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a +fool all your life!"</p> +<p>Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the +boy, as we rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of +fixing in your upper loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend +you, but it was easy to see that he hadn't known you long."</p> +<p>"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said +Forrest. "Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I +overlooked warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I +can see old Nat leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors +dragging. Don't believe a word he told you, and don't even give him +a pleasant look while he stays here."</p> +<p>The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, +to water and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of +yourself," resumed Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my +hard luck, I've fallen into angels' hands. These boys are darling +fellows. Now before you leave, square yourself with that youngest +one."</p> +<p>"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied +Straw. "It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that +you hear and only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe +hunting oftener when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. +There are just about so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've +got to take them along with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and +mumps."</p> +<p>During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the +sad condition which confronted the lads, when accident and +necessity threw him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's +opinion of the valuable range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and +urged his assistance in securing some cattle with which to stock +and claim it for the boys.</p> +<p>"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a +start in life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've +turned hundreds of them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the +delivery of a herd. Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of +mine to get a few hundred head during this summer. Here's the place +to drop your cripples and stray cows. From what Paul says, there's +range above here for thousands of cattle, and that's the foundation +of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, it has a value in proportion to +its carrying capacity, and Priest and I want these boys to secure +it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to make a fight for +them."</p> +<p>The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me +in and we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this +year to the same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as +last season, and I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my +hands last summer, held me down to the straight road brand at +delivery, and I'll see to it that there are no strays in my herd +this year. I went hungry for fresh beef, and gave those sharks over +forty good strays. They knew I'd have to leave them behind me. +Watch me do it again."</p> +<p>"About how many have you now, and how do they run?"</p> +<p>"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a +good cow down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five +head, and I'll cut you out five or six cripples. They could never +make it through, nohow."</p> +<p>"Any calves among the strays?"</p> +<p>"Two or three."</p> +<p>"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the +others to me. We'll let on that I've bought them."</p> +<p>That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was +eaten in the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail +crossing that afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut +out all strays and cripples. One of the boys would return with him, +for the expected cow, and when volunteers were called for, Dell +hesitated in offering his services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw +to Joel, who had jumped at the chance. "I'm a little weak on this +red-headed boy, and when a cow hand picks on me for his side +partner, the choice holds until further orders. Bring in the horses +off picket, son, and we'll be riding."</p> +<p>The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy +departed than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in +love with the idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to +be; just about midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog +wild to get in on it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get +sick myself, and I want to be a stockholder in this hospital of +yours. What's your favorite color in cows?"</p> +<p>Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me +a milk-white cow <i>with a black face</i>" instantly said Forrest. +"White cows are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to +drink black coffee."</p> +<p>"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what +color for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no +answer.</p> +<p>"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a +dollar a head more than mongrel colors."</p> +<p>"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can +pick his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that +little passel of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to +Forrest, "that I'm sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the +cows. Yes, I'm coming back and stay all night."</p> +<p>Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming +back, was going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but +that this stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he +would not trifle with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded +man. All this seemed so in keeping with the partial outline of +Priest, the old gray-haired foreman, that the boy's caution gave +place to firm belief. If generous princes ever walked the earth, it +was just possible that liberal ones in the rough were still riding +it in disguise.</p> +<p>Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," +said he, throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along +with this strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white +one, and you're to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your +place, I'd pick a red one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head +more than any other color."</p> +<p>There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his +brother had not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered +the younger boy.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, +with a loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. +"I left it to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. +And say, this hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one +between Dodge and Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take +stock in it. I wonder if that was what he meant by sawing off a +little passel of cattle on Mr. Quince. Now, don't argue or ask +foolish questions, but keep your eyes and ears open."</p> +<p>Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to +meet his herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the +cattle, then nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses +and rode for the rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard +of the trailing cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed +animals were to be found. The drag men knew them to a hoof, were +delighted to hear that all cripples were to be dropped, and half a +dozen were cut off and started up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the +nearest water," said Straw to the drag men, "and then push them up +the creek until I overtake you. Here's where we drop our strays and +cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail hospital."</p> +<p>The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They +filled the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, +crowding into the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek +in slaking their thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost +as uniform in size as that many marbles, and the ease with which a +few men handled the herd became a nine-day wonder to the astonished +boy. And when the word passed around to cut all strays up the +creek, the facility with which the men culled out the alien down to +one class and road brand, proved them masters in the craft. It +seemed as easily done as selecting a knife from among the other +trinkets in a boy's pocket.</p> +<p>After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail +boss drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and +classed them as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with +the cripples, the promised little passel numbered thirty-five +cattle, not counting three calves. Straw excused his men, promising +to overtake them the next morning, and man and boy drifted the +nucleus of a future ranch toward the homestead.</p> +<p>"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," +said Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one +for yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your +choice. Any time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to +pick one for your own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or +bad. Remember, it carries my compliments to you, as one of the +founders of the first hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle +trail."</p> +<p>Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were +dropped to the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get +these tender steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above +the improvements. You'll find them near here on the water. Now, +we'll sight the tent around the next bend, and you may point out +your choice."</p> +<p>"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, +pointing out a yearling.</p> +<p>A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted +Straw; "shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that +black cow and calf?"</p> +<p>"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've +heard they bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the +bunch."</p> +<p>"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her +increase would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a +cowman, you'll have to do some of your own thinking."</p> +<p>Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally +guilty, as his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived +from the random remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in +range cattle, and Dell's error was based in not relying on his own +judgment.</p> +<p>On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased +around to the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the +little herd was grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving +Dell to nurse the nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted +at the tent. "Well," said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, +"that red-headed Dell is surely the making of a great cowman. All +successful men begin at the bottom of the ladder, and he surely put +his foot on the lowest rung. What do you suppose his choice +was?"</p> +<p>"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest.</p> +<p>"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if +he didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!"</p> +<p>Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his +laughter. "Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can +say Dell wasn't true to his colors."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE</h3> + +<p>The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the +crippled cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing +needful, and it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. +They were driven up among the others, now scattered about in plain +sight in the valley above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral +contentment.</p> +<p>"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to +Forrest, as the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make +this valley look good. What you want to do now is to keep on +drawing more. Don't allow no outfit to pass without chipping in, at +least give them the chance, and this trail hospital will be on +velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell outfits will tear their +shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that needn't bar the other +herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they can chip in a +sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and if they +won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. You +ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays."</p> +<p>The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply +points were oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long +stretches of unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle +to the Northwest, was an unknown port. The monotony of from three +to five months on the trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, +while a glass of milk or even an hour in the shade was a distinct +relief. Straw was reluctant to go, returning to make suggestions, +by way of excuse, and not until forced by the advancing day did he +mount and leave to overtake his herd.</p> +<p>Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of +brands and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson +in reading brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to +right," said Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or +downward. If more than one brand is on an animal, the upper one is +the holding or one in which ownership is vested. Character brands +are known by name, and are used because difficult to alter. There +is scarcely a letter in the alphabet that a cattle thief can't +change. When a cow brute leaves its home range, it's always a +temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and characters are +not so easily changed."</p> +<p>The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that +cattle were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A +notice was accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, +from the Texas and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the +headwaters of the same, including all its tributaries, by virtue of +possession and occupancy vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. +"How does that sound?" inquired Forrest, its author, giving a +literal reading of the notice. "Nothing small or stingy about that, +eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty."</p> +<p>"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big +country?" pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this +creek."</p> +<p>"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we +make a spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice +down at the trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see +it, and nail your colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and +must be respected."</p> +<p>Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was +detailed on sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each +trip he managed to find some excuse to ride among the cattle. +"What's the brand on my white cow?" inquired Forrest, the object +leading up to another peculiarity in color.</p> +<p>"I couldn't <i>read</i> it," said Dell, airing his range +parlance.</p> +<p>"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" +inquired the wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue.</p> +<p>"Not that I remember; why?"</p> +<p>"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one +color that she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a +white face, but you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored +face. That line is drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never +shoot a wild swan with a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, +or meet a pure white cow with a black face. Hereafter, if any one +attempts to send you on a wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, +tell them that no such animal ever walked this earth."</p> +<p>Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was +sighted by the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned +themselves to random conversation.</p> +<p>"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you +why you picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a +cow. Straw laughed at you."</p> +<p>"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more +than any other color."</p> +<p>"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority +for that statement?"</p> +<p>"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to +Mr. Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in +defense of his actions.</p> +<p>"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you +actually know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the +best brand reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, +as furnished by Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I +want the road and ranch brand on the cripples, and the only or +holding brand on the others. Now, fool one another if you can. Ride +through them slowly, and the one who brings me a perfect list is my +bully boy."</p> +<p>The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several +hours were spent in copying brands. These included characters, +figures, and letters, and to read them with skill was largely a +matter of practice. Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this +instance the amateur's list would be compared with that of an +experienced trail foreman, a neutral judge from which there was no +appeal.</p> +<p>The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them +read, but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in +reading characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half +dozen of the latter in Straw's list, a <i>turkey track</i> being +the most difficult to interpret, but when all characters were fully +understood, Joel still had four errors to Dell's three. The +cripples were found to be correct in each instance, and were exempt +from further disturbance. Forrest now insisted that to classify, by +enumerating each grade, would assist in locating the errors, which +work would have to be postponed until morning.</p> +<p>The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. +Forrest regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of +the Texans in reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," +said he, "we have boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a +novel. I know men who can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, +as they leave a corral, or trail along, and not only classify them +but also give you every brand correctly. Now, that's the kind of +cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, and to-morrow morning you +must get these brands accurate. What was that?"</p> +<p>Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded +like a shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant +hail.</p> +<p>"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the +creek."</p> +<p>"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in +this country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it +up with a Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest +knoll. It's more than likely some trail man hunting this camp."</p> +<p>The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was +some fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching +horse was distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, +and the prompt hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is +Quince Forrest here?" he inquired, as his horse shied at the +tent.</p> +<p>"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice +the horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. +"Come in and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face."</p> +<p>Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling +at a straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. +Priest wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted +suicide--unfortunate in love was the reason given--and I have +orders to inquire into your health or scatter flowers on your +grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no complications, I +hope?"</p> +<p>"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage.</p> +<p>"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, +and I rode through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to +eat, now would be an awful nice time to mention it."</p> +<p>Seay's wants were looked after.</p> +<p>"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired +Forrest, resuming the conversation.</p> +<p>"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both +herds--live with the lead one and occasionally go back and see my +own. It all depends on who feeds best."</p> +<p>"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued +Forrest.</p> +<p>"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three +o'clock to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. +My outfit acts as rear-guard to Blocker's herd."</p> +<p>These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each +other in months, and a fire of questions followed, and were +answered. The chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and +field, led up to the prospects for a northern demand for +cattle.</p> +<p>"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to +a question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will +leave Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man +Don isn't driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will +pass Ogalalla before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive +going north of the Platte will come next month. With the exception +of scattering herds, the first of August will end the drive."</p> +<p>The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in +the tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in +life.</p> +<p>"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't +tasted meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. +It's a good range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year +may be a little tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for +the necessary staples, we can provision them until next spring. You +must leave some flour and salt and beans and the like."</p> +<p>"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you +ever notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit +gets tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, +and after the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie +chicken and fried trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an +elegant taste for dainties. Nothing but good old beef ever makes +them even think of home again. Yes, my cook will give you his last +bean, and make a presentation speech gratis."</p> +<p>Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had +left the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making +crutches. Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them +out, and by assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased +into an old family rocking-chair in the shade of the tent.</p> +<p>"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some +old patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white +cow yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your +uncle John Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up +as a reward to complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you +ready?"</p> +<p>The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with +the one rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's +regarding a dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under +the classification the errors were easily located, and summoning +the visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation.</p> +<p>"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's +the roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell +and Joel's. Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting +the list perfect, and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel +differs on a three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, +get them straight, because we're expecting to receive more cattle +this evening. Pass on these brands before you leave to meet your +herd this afternoon. And remember, there's a cow and calf at stake +for whichever one of these boys first gets the roll correct."</p> +<p>After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The +cattle were lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding +within a rod, thus rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell +led the way to the dun cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, +the boy called for his list in possession of the man. "Let me take +my roll a minute," said he, "and I'll make the correction. It isn't +a four bar four, it's four equals four; there's two bars instead of +one. The cow and calf is mine. That gives me three."</p> +<p>The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been +fairly earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's +errors were easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the +mere failure to note the lines of difference between the figure +eight and the letter S had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay +amused himself by pointing out different animals and calling for +their brands, and an envious rivalry resulted between the brothers, +in their ability to read range script.</p> +<p>"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode +homeward, "are gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever +forgotten. Twenty years hence, you boys will remember all these +brands. One man can read brands at twice the distance of another, +and I have seen many who could distinguish cattle from horses, with +the naked eye, at a distance of three miles. When a man learns to +know all there is about cattle, he ought to be getting gray around +the edges."</p> +<p>Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice +might trip his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's +nothing like having studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, +and it won him a cow and calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. +I wonder how he is on driving mules."</p> +<p>"I can drive them," came the prompt reply.</p> +<p>"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the +trail crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything +they give you and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we +begin laying in a year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, +followed by a late spring, and there's nothing like having enough. +Relieve them of all their dried fruits, and make a strong talk for +the staples of life. I may want to winter here myself, and a cow +camp should make provision for more or less company."</p> +<p>Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," +said he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of +the herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form."</p> +<p>It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the +trail crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a +quandary, between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the +passing herds, yet a bond of obligation to the wounded man required +his obedience. Forrest had noticed the horse under saddle, the +impatience of the boy, but tactfully removed all uneasiness.</p> +<p>"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare +you this afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, +but we have so much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you +must get me four poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and +make a sunshade out of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. +Have the props ready, and in the morning Seay will show you how to +stretch a tarpaulin for a sunshade. And then along towards evening, +you must drift our little bunch of cattle at least a mile up the +creek. I'm expecting more this evening, and until we learn the +brands on this second contingent, they must be kept separate. And +then, since we've claimed it, we want to make a showing of +occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. Within a +month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and be +watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it."</p> +<p>Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the +arbor, were cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at +hand. When the cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday +rest, the impatient lad was allowed to graze them around the bend +of the creek. There was hardly enough work to keep an active boy +employed, and a social hour ensued. "Things are coming our way," +said Forrest. "This man Seay will just about rob Blocker's outfit. +When it comes to making a poor mouth, that boy Dorg is in a class +by himself. Dell will just about have a wagon load. You boys will +have to sleep in the tent hereafter."</p> +<p>It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to +the carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in +the staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and +beans, while a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots +which, after a wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were +among the assets. It was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a +free discard of two trail outfits, all of which found an acceptable +lodgment at the new ranch.</p> +<p>"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. +Blocker's foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He +says that when he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only +put on the little and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's +such a funny fellow. He made me try on those boots, and when he saw +they would fit, he ordered their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to +give them to me or he would fight him at sunrise."</p> +<p>"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. +"Well, that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new +country. This ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my +crutch for a wand, and everything we need seems to just bob up out +of the plain. Cattle coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming +to supper, in fact, everything coming our way. Dell, get up a +banquet--who cares for expense!"</p> +<p>It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed +above the homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, +the cripples had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the +next morning. With the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to +reach the opening, and by clinging to the tent-pole, waved a +welcome to the approaching trail men.</p> +<p>Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted +his host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what +kind of a dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the +square, there goes my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the +gift carries the compliments of my employer, Captain John. That +red-headed boy delivered my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out +that I'm somebody that's come a long way, and that you're tickled +to death to see me, and order the fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I +won't even dismount."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>A FALL OF CRUMBS</h3> + +<p>An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to +overtake their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully +employed. The cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the +commissary stores assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men +had stretched the sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state +before his own tent door.</p> +<p>The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, +they were a mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. +Occasionally a trail foreman would provide his outfit with a milk +cow before starting, or gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly +given his cow to the hospital on the Beaver.</p> +<p>A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the +twilight of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and +only ceased near the middle of the following forenoon. The creek +filled to its banks, the field and garden freshened in a day, and +the new ranch threw off the blight of summer drouth.</p> +<p>"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst +forth at noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now +that water is sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will +cool the weather and freshen the grass, and every drover with herds +on the trail will push forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol +the crossing on the Beaver, as the rain will lay the dust for a +week and rob us of our signal."</p> +<p>The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was +daily detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a +herd, if timing its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could +be sighted. On a primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle +trail, every benefit to the herd was sought, and the freshened +range and running water were a welcome breeze to the drover's +sail.</p> +<p>The first week after the rain only three herds reached the +Beaver. Each foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, +but the herds were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for +delivery on army contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of +owners. The usual flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled +and lame saddle stock, and of useless commissary supplies, was +missing, and only the well wishes of the wayfaring were left to +hearten man and boy at the new ranch.</p> +<p>The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's +herds passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased +to one hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, +while the commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load +being necessary to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In +all, during the week, fifteen herds passed, only three of which +refused the invitation to call, while one was merely drifting along +in search of a range to take up and locate with a herd of cattle. +Its owners, new men in the occupation, were scouting wide, and when +one of them discovered Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his +delight was unbounded, as the range met every requirement for +establishing a ranch.</p> +<p>The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the +source of the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he +rode down the creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend +of the Beaver, was surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing +the value of the range, Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the +first contingent of strays up the creek, farther and farther, until +they were then ranging within a mile of the grove. The newcomer +could hardly control his chagrin, and as he rode along, scarcely a +mile was passed but more cattle were encountered, and finally the +tent and homestead loomed in sight.</p> +<p>"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the +stranger, as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a +homestead, I suppose?"</p> +<p>Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the +latter; "this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from +the trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the +trail with cattle, I reckon?"</p> +<p>"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the +man. "I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine +grove of timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, +we'll move in within a few days and take possession."</p> +<p>"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely +inquired Forrest.</p> +<p>"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have +escaped from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll +have them all rounded up and pushed down the creek."</p> +<p>Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the +arbor and took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was +a picture of contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, +and qualifying his remarks with rare irony.</p> +<p>"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and +stay for dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, +come to some friendly understanding."</p> +<p>"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and +will be anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we +don't care to locate any farther north."</p> +<p>"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your +cattle. You seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the +wounded man.</p> +<p>"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty +of unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to +graze five thousand cattle."</p> +<p>"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the +Beaver, will carry ten thousand head the year round," replied +Forrest, languidly indifferent.</p> +<p>"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer.</p> +<p>Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You +have the name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some +time ago, and those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. +Before you round up any cattle and drive them out, you had better +look into the situation thoroughly. You surely know and respect +range customs."</p> +<p>"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to +hold the whole country with a handful of cattle."</p> +<p>"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as +fast as possible," politely replied Forrest.</p> +<p>"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," +authoritatively asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a +thousand cows, and I've decided on that hackberry grove as +headquarters."</p> +<p>"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like +tones. "Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. +Their range runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the +headwaters of Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you +can't stay for dinner, you'll have time to ride down to the +crossing of the Texas and Montana trail on this creek. There you'll +find the posted notice, so that he who runs may read, that Wells +Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll furnish you a pencil +and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the formal notice +and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong enough to +outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. I've +met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet."</p> +<p>The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see +the object in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a +legal question," said he, mounting.</p> +<p>"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase +of a herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of +beginners like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance +of range is a good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and +sheet of paper."</p> +<p>"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining +away. "I suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without +halting.</p> +<p>"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," +shouted the crippled Texan.</p> +<p>Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. +The boy had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession +of a range, and now the envy of others had threatened his +interests.</p> +<p>"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is +like a page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: +that you took your range in good time, and that it has a value. +This very afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to +those springs above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample +around the water and noon in the shade of the motte. That's +possession, and possession is nine points, and the other fellow can +have the tenth. If any one wants to dispute your rights or encroach +on them, I'll mount a horse and go to the trail for help. The +Texans are the boys to insist on range customs being respected. +It's time I was riding a little, anyhow."</p> +<p>Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds +due to reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of +the foremen around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if +you want to see him, you had better come down to the crossing. He +knows you, and makes out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come +down, he'll give you a quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's +one of Jess Pressnell's bosses."</p> +<p>"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the +horses and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a +scaffold to get me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, +because hereafter we must almost live on horseback."</p> +<p>The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, +returned to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the +Beaver, in order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its +living springs. The plains of the West were a lawless country, and +if its pioneers would not respect its age-old pastoral customs, +then the consequences must be met or borne.</p> +<p>Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds +were coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed +from the homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return +for a week, foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and +never failing to levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on +cattle, horses, and needful supplies. As many as five and six herds +arrived in a single day, none of which were allowed to pass without +an appeal: if strangers, in behalf of a hospital; if among friends, +the simple facts were sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with +bunches of cattle, or freighting the caches to the homestead, while +Joel received the different contingents and scouted the threatened +range.</p> +<p>Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell +fell heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a +trail outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, +affording each of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud +against the range lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the +Beaver, and Forrest took particular pains to inform its owners of +the whereabouts of unclaimed range the year before. Evidently the +embryo cowmen had taken heed and inquired into range customs, and +were accordingly profuse with disclaimers of any wrong intent.</p> +<p>The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of +the Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the +trailing of cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand +head having crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the +boys an insight into pastoral life, brought them in close contact +with the men of the open, drove false ideas from their immature +minds, and assisted in the laying of those early foundations on +which their future manhood must rest.</p> +<p>Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest +slept with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the +best water. The fact that only experienced men were employed on the +trail made the red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, +while the wide acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad +every courtesy of camp and road. Dell soon learned that the +position of point man usually fell to a veteran of the range, and +one whose acquaintance was worthy of cultivation, both in the +saddle and around the camp-fire.</p> +<p>"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one +of their trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to +do, and nearly always rides with one leg across his horse's +neck."</p> +<p>"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, +you'll have to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in +the swing, and after that you have a right to expect a place on the +point. The trouble is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two +at any time. Here I've been a foreman in other years, and this trip +I was glad to make a hand. There's so many slips, and we can't be +all point men and bosses. Cooks and horse wranglers are also useful +men."</p> +<p>The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared +early during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly +healed, and he was wondering if his employer would make a further +claim on his services during that summer, which was probable at the +hands of a drover with such extensive interests. He and Dell were +still patrolling the ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance +from the railroad to the south drove up to the crossing. It brought +a telegram from Don Lovell, requesting the presence of Forrest in +Dodge City, and the messenger, a liveryman from Buffalo, further +assured him that transportation was awaiting him at that station. +There were no grounds on which to refuse the summons, indefinite +and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations were immediately +made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had been secured +during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all returned to +the homestead for the night.</p> +<p>To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and +now that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was +revealed. As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment +when their poverty had protested at receiving him, his +unselfishness in their behalf had proven his friendship and +gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was not lost on the +parentless waifs.</p> +<p>On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. +"Don't worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and +grass grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've +never done any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out +and see if you lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that +I've done any great feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one +of the laws of life, that often we can do for others what we can't +do for ourselves. That sounds like preaching, but it isn't. +Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I didn't get you double the +number of cattle. What we did skirmish together was merely the +flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from the supper table, +and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could have had just a +few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys being poor +and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was good for +a thousand strays and cripples!"</p> +<p>The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine +range. Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the +titles to many of them were, had been secured and were occupying +the valley. A round dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, +but which in time would round into form, were added to the new +ranch. Every passing commissary had laughed at the chance to +discard its plunder and useless staples, and only the departure of +the man behind the venture, standing in the shadow as it were, +threw a depression over the outlook.</p> +<p>Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with +Forrest. The boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was +only with tact and diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest +and embarrassment, was forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said +the departing man, "and it may come handy with you. There's a long +winter ahead, and the fight ain't near won yet. The first year in +starting a ranch is always the hardest. But if you boys can only +hold these cattle until grass comes again, it's the making of you. +You know the boy is father to the man, and if you are true-blue +seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to the stock."</p> +<p>Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the +railroad was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a +hand, shaking it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the +general advice. "I'll make Dodge in two days," said the departing +guest, "and then I'll know the meaning of this wire. It means +something--that's sure. In the mean time, sit square in your +saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run riot that you are +cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. That's all until +you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. Adios, +señors."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>SUNSHINE AND SHADOW</h3> + +<p>An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few +herds were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate +to plead, all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. +Forrest had only taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all +fixtures contributed for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, +including the horses of his employers. The lads were therefore left +an abundance of mounts, all cattle were drifted above the ranch, +and plans for the future considered.</p> +<p>Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our +saddle horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after +Forrest's departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will +make fodder, but that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and +I know where I can mow a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have +to stable a saddle horse apiece this winter, and those mules will +have to be fed. The grass has greened up since the rain, and it +will be no trick at all to make ten to fifteen tons of hay. Help me +grind the scythe, and we'll put in every spare hour haying. While +you ride around the cattle every morning, I can mow."</p> +<p>A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming +West, their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive +methods prevailed on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use +a scythe in his haying operations. Joel swung the blade like a +veteran, scattering his swath to cure in the sun, and with +whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. The raking into +windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for the brothers, +no day passing but the cured store was added to, until sufficient +was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried their +mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals.</p> +<p>"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said +Dell, on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five +tons in it. And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when +I've worked so hard and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan +despises any work he can't do on horseback. But just the same, +they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. Quince could live with us +always. He's surely a good forager."</p> +<p>The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two +strangers rode up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They +were made welcome, and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, +in search of pasturage for a herd of through cattle. There was an +open frankness about the wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of +wrong intent, and the brothers met their inquiries with equal +candor.</p> +<p>"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in +kindly greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the +trail crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless +the market improves, we must secure range for three thousand +two-year-old steers. Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow."</p> +<p>The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new +occupation. The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the +innate kindness of the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As +the evening wore on, the old sense of dependence brought the lads +in closer touch with the strangers, the conversation running over +the mutual field of range and cattle matters.</p> +<p>"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are +leaving your State for the upper country?"</p> +<p>"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. +"It's the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests +of our State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, +Texas clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was +limited, the State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were +congesting on our ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. +The subjection of the Indian was followed by a sudden development +of the West, the Texas and Montana cattle trail opened, and the +pastoral resources of our State surprised the world. Last year we +sent eight hundred thousand cattle over the trail, and they were +not missed at home. That's the reason I'm your guest to-night; +range has suddenly become valuable in Texas."</p> +<p>"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of +cattle," added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding +ground, but we can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty +years' experience has proven that a northern climate is necessary +to fatten and bring our Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two +winters in the North will insure a gain of from three to four +hundred pounds' extra weight more per head than if allowed to reach +maturity on their native heath. This gain fully doubles the value +of every hoof, and is a further motive why we are your guests +to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which to mature +our steer cattle."</p> +<p>The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an +asset of value. Less than two months before, they were on the point +of abandoning their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining +life, the stone which the builders rejected, and now it promised a +firm foundation to their future hopes. The threatened encroachment +of a few weeks previous, and the causes of demand, as explained by +their guests, threw a new light on range values and made the boys +doubly cautious. Was there a possible tide in the primitive range, +which taken at its flood would lead these waifs to fortune?</p> +<p>The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper +valley of the Beaver.</p> +<p>"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be +understood that we respect your rights to this range. If we can +reach some mutual agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, +but not by any form of intrusion. We might pool our interests for a +period of years, and the rental would give you lads a good +schooling. There are many advantages that might accrue by pooling +our cattle. At least, there is no harm in looking over the +range."</p> +<p>"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. +"None of our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from +there I can nearly point out the limits of our ranch."</p> +<p>"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, +"but only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with +Mr. Quince Forrest, now at Dodge."</p> +<p>"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No +one must take any advantage of you boys."</p> +<p>The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead +the different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel +resumed his mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses +coming down the dim road which his father used in going to +Culbertson. A wagon followed, and from its general outlines the boy +recognized it to be a cow outfit, heading for their improvements. +Hastening homeward, he found Paul Priest, the gray-haired foreman, +who had passed northward nearly two months before, sitting under +the sunshade before the tent.</p> +<p>"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!"</p> +<p>No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys +had been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest +filled every want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't +bother about getting any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the +creek, and we'll have a little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in +Dodge; old man Don told me he needed him. Where's your +brother?"</p> +<p>"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted +Joel. "They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement +reached must be made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, +you will do just as well. They'll be in soon."</p> +<p>"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired +foreman. "I'm jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm +a silent partner in this ranch. How many cattle have you?"</p> +<p>"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves."</p> +<p>"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The +lazy wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!"</p> +<p>"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell +and myself."</p> +<p>"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a +rustler I am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the +wrangler and issue directions in regard to camping.</p> +<p>The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse +between Priest and his protégé. For the time being a +soldier's introduction sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came +in for a rough caress. "What do you think of the range?" inquired +the trail foreman, turning to the men, and going direct to the +subject.</p> +<p>"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder +cowman, "and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer."</p> +<p>"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a +jerk of his thumb toward Priest.</p> +<p>"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. +"My name is Allen, and this is my son Hugh."</p> +<p>"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don +Lovell," said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the +Texans.</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the +younger man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our +herd."</p> +<p>"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his +pockets for a telegram.</p> +<p>"Comanche."</p> +<p>"And when did you leave Dodge?"</p> +<p>"Just ten days ago."</p> +<p>"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, +handing the older man a telegram.</p> +<p>The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman +continued: "This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, +and we delivered it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North +Platte. From there the main contractor will trail the beef herd up +to the Yellowstone. Old man Don was present at the delivery, and +when I got back to Ogalalla with the oufit, that message was +awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to receive the cattle. They +go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. It says +three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, don't it?"</p> +<p>"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back."</p> +<p>The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll +have to declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had +several good offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn +of events. I had figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of +this range would give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you +on the eldest attaining his majority. We could have pooled our +cattle, and your interests would have been carried free."</p> +<p>"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an +air of interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've +known some mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the +owl in their old McGuffy spelling-book."</p> +<p>A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a +welcome call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook +has orders to tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner."</p> +<p>A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," +said the elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company +to the railroad."</p> +<p>"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. +"We're making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we +reach Dodge."</p> +<p>"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the +genial Texan.</p> +<p>"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have +lived around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that +you simply can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is +the hour for starting, and I'll overtake you before evening."</p> +<p>The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having +been excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine +condition, four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the +hour named, the cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. +"Angle across the plain and enter the trail on the divide, between +here and the Prairie Dog," suggested Priest to his men. "We will +want to touch here coming back, and the wagon track will point the +way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo."</p> +<p>Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and +means committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, +once the sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts +spirit and courage into the firing line like knowing that the +reserves are strong. It's going to be no easy task to hold these +cattle this winter, and now is the time to bring up the ammunition +and provision the camp. The army can't march unless the mules are +in condition, and you must be well mounted to handle cattle. Ample +provision for your saddle stock is the first requirement."</p> +<p>"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll +have two hundred shocks of fodder."</p> +<p>"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for +your saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, +cavalry is useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers +along its line, coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll +make inquiry to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred +bushels of corn would make the forage reserves ample for the +winter."</p> +<p>"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't +want to take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy."</p> +<p>"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now +comes the question of corrals and branding."</p> +<p>"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping +at conclusions.</p> +<p>"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a +blizzard struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty +miles during a night. These through Texas cattle have been known to +drift five hundred miles during the first winter. You must guard +against a winter drift, and the only way is to hold your cattle +under herd. If you boys let these cattle out of your hand, away +from your control, they'll drift south to the Indian reservations +and be lost. You must hold them in spite of storms, and you will +need a big, roomy inclosure in which to corral the herd at +night."</p> +<p>"There's the corn field," suggested Dell.</p> +<p>"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect +against the north and west winds."</p> +<p>"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a +perfect horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the +north and northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose +five acres. Our cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above +the house."</p> +<p>"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising.</p> +<p>"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle +of the creek," promptly replied Joel.</p> +<p>"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll +have time to look it over before leaving."</p> +<p>While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel +certain alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of +the addition of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the +necessary posts and timber before my return, and when we pass +north, my outfit will build you a chute and brand your cattle the +same day. Have the materials on the ground, and I'll bring any +needful hardware from the railroad."</p> +<p>A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The +sand-bar was overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on +horseback, but the leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount +through the tangle until the bend was circled. "It's an ideal +winter shelter," said Priest, dismounting to step the entrance, as +a preliminary measurement. "A hundred and ten yards," he announced, +a few minutes later, "coon-skin measurement. You'll need twenty +heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll bring you a roll of wire. +That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills easily. Given a dry +bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd can laugh at +any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing niggardly +about its proportions."</p> +<p>"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the +trio rode homeward.</p> +<p>"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw +winter's over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian +summer. It might be as late as the first of December, but it's a +good idea to loose-herd awhile; ride around them evening and +morning, corral them and leave the gates open, teach them to seek a +dry, cosy bed, at least a month before putting the cattle under +close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, and then they'll +want to come home. You boys will just about have to live with your +little herd this winter."</p> +<p>"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we +can do it again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can +weather them."</p> +<p>"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog +case; it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. +Lost during one storm, and your herd is lost for good."</p> +<p>"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. +"Mr. Quince thought two stabled ones would do the winter +herding."</p> +<p>"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," +replied the cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you +spare them. If you must, miss your own dinner, but see that your +horse gets his. Dismount and strip the bridle off at every chance, +and if you guard against getting caught out in storms, one horse +apiece is all you need."</p> +<p>On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse +in waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit +his visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading +his horse from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and +lend a hand in shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have +a herd of his own, and in that case, there will be two outfits of +men. More than likely, we'll come through together."</p> +<p>Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around +as if time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary +is provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a +winter's siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute +is half done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. +Honest Injun, I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you +out; just to see what kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if +any one else offers to buy an interest in this range," he called +back, as a happy afterthought, "just tell them that you have all +the partners you need."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK</h3> + +<p>The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a +firing line of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit +and courage of orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming +winter. The elements have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a +conqueror, and an invincible army has trailed its banners in the +snow, unable to cope with the rigors of the frost king. The lads +bent anew to their tasks with a cheerfulness which made work mere +play, sweetening their frugal fare, and bringing restful sleep. The +tie which began in a mercenary agreement had seemingly broken its +bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human love, a new +covenant had been adopted.</p> +<p>"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next +morning, "holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds +them now without herding."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0106-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0106-1.jpg" width="484" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst +possible winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way +to overcome one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means +by bringing up the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to +withstand a winter siege."</p> +<p>"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell.</p> +<p>"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding +around the cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in +Hackberry Grove. Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut +them while you're hauling wood. Remember we must have the materials +on the ground when Mr. Paul returns, to build a corral and branding +chute."</p> +<p>Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. +Within a week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the +further supply of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily +noted in its advancing growth.</p> +<p>Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was +levied on, a change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt +a new impetus by making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The +fuel supply grew, not to meet a winter's, but a year's +requirements. Where strength was essential, only the best of timber +was chosen, and well within the time limit the materials for corral +and branding chute were at hand on the ground. One task met and +mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier.</p> +<p>"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as +the last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew +the plans, we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, +and it won't do to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar +rises in the stock. We can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul +returns."</p> +<p>Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range +to-day," he announced the following morning. "From here to the ford +doesn't matter, but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We +must learn the location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever +cuts us off from the corrals, we must point the herd for some other +port."</p> +<p>"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell.</p> +<p>"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through +the sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of +dunes."</p> +<p>That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at +the new ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away +with the rising sun, riding among and counting the different +bunches of cattle encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no +details of the conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up +the creek, escape their vigilance.</p> +<p>The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed +on their chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the +forks of the Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south +branch of the creek was traced to its source among the sand dunes. +If not inviting, the section proved interesting, with its scraggy +plum brush, its unnumbered hills, and its many depressions, +scalloped out of the sandy soil by the action of winds. Coveys of +wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken took wing on every +hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf arose from a sunny +siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed the air in +search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined in +their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and +like a flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother +and whelps skulked and were lost to sight in an instant.</p> +<p>"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs +appeared. "The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and +are still following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and +if this proves a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our +cattle before spring. We may have more than storms to fight. There +they go."</p> +<p>"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither +dog nor gun."</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not +bother us while they can get food elsewhere."</p> +<p>The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter +refuge to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for +a short gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once +the open of the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the +brothers made a wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite +the homestead, near the middle of the afternoon, they turned and +rode directly for the ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted +them.</p> +<p>Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance +revealed both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up +to the stable corral, in the rough reception which followed, the +lads were fairly dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. +"Well, here we are again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said +Priest, once order was restored.</p> +<p>"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel.</p> +<p>"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. +About this time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open +with two herds, each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. +I'm coming with some style this time. You simply can't keep a good +man down."</p> +<p>"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef +ranch," explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and +came through a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have +the chute and corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll +lack is the hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during +the afternoon."</p> +<p>The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the +day. Every old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by +twilight the outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The +stable corral was built out of heavy poles and posts, with a +capacity of holding near one hundred cattle, and by a very slight +alteration it could be enlarged, with branding conveniences +added.</p> +<p>At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys +regarding the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked +the matter over between themselves, and had decided that the simple +truth concerning the facts was the only course to adopt. The older +of the two men, by the consent of years, was delegated to instruct +the lads, and when the question of brands to be adopted by the new +ranch was under consideration, the chance presented itself.</p> +<p>"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the +boys, as they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have +to use two brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by +bill-of-sale. In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is +simply impossible to keep strays out of moving herds. They come in +at night, steal in while a herd is passing through thickets, while +it is watering, and they may not be noticed for a month. Under all +range customs, strays are recognized as flotsam. Title is +impossible, and the best claim is due to the range that gives them +sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the increase of +strays to the range on which they are found, and that will entitle +you to all calves born of stray mothers."</p> +<p>The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For +fear of winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will +run all these strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be +known as the 'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us +an asylum for that branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and +owners of the range, all increase will fall to Wells Brothers. +However, in accepting this deputyship, you do so with the +understanding that the brand is merely a tally-mark, and that in no +way does it deprive the owner of coming forward to prove and take +possession of his property. This method affords a refuge to all +strays in your possession, and absolves you from any evil intent. +All other cattle coming under your control, with the knowledge and +consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee simple, and we +will run them into any brand you wish to adopt."</p> +<p>"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating.</p> +<p>"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. +"The weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way +their ancestors went. One generation exempts you."</p> +<p>The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not +mentioned until the following morning. The forces were divided +between the tasks, and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the +site of the new corral, the disclosure was made known.</p> +<p>"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. +"Wolves act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. +Their activity or presence will warn you of the approach of +blizzards, and you want to take the hint and keep your weather eye +open. When other food becomes scarce, they run in packs and will +kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, as yours will be either under +herd or in a corral. Wolves always single out an animal to attack; +they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken advantage of in their +hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly loves kidney +suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, they +can be lured to their own destruction."</p> +<p>The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. +It was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to +a strong post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together +with stays, admitting of a pliability which served a double +purpose. By sinking an extra post opposite each of the main ones, +the flexibility of the gate also admitted of making a perfect wing, +aiding in the entrance or exit of a herd. In fastening the gate in +the centre short ropes were used, and the wire web drawn taut to +the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys will find this short +wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," assured the old +foreman.</p> +<p>The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. +Forrest took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme +upper limits of the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and +turned homeward. The cattle ranged within a mile or two on either +side of the creek, and by slowly closing in and drifting down the +Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch was brought into a compact herd. +There was no hurry, as ample time must be allowed for the arrival +of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in finishing and making +ready the upper corral for its first reception of cattle. There was +a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, as a surprise +for the boys.</p> +<p>As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch +hours in advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by +Priest, and fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of +ropes attached to the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to +the scene of its use at an easy canter. The stretching of the wire +was less than an hour's work, the slack being taken up by the +wranglers, ever upholding Texas methods, from the pommels of +saddles, while Priest clinched the strands with staples at the +proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable extension of the +fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. "Now, when the +stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in place with +staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," said +one of the wranglers admiringly.</p> +<p>It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after +counting the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel +to graze the herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a +mile above, and taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The +trail herds had purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the +Beaver that night, and were met by their respective foremen while +watering for the day. In receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of +one-aged cattle, both foremen, but more particularly Forrest, in +the extra time at his command, had levied on the flotsam of the +herds from which his employer was buying, until he had accumulated +over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, among a few friends +and the few herds with which he came in contact, scarcely half that +number, and still the two contingents made a very material increase +to the new ranch.</p> +<p>The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. +Joel and Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch +stock, and Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and +late contingents as the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of +the boys on the point, as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it +was suddenly confronted by another contingent, rounding a bend of +the creek from the opposite quarter. Priest had purposely detailed +strange men, coached to the point of blindness, in charge of the +new addition, and when the two bunches threatened to mix, every +horseman present except the boys seemed blind to the situation.</p> +<p>Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," +said Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own +boys to point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches +of cattle mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!"</p> +<p>"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," +protested Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and +their cattle walked into ours. Where were you?"</p> +<p>"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his +down on the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot +what we were doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them +now. We'll pen them until morning."</p> +<p>The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the +strange men assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the +situation to the crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the +gray-haired foreman managed to drop a word which lightened Dell's +depression and cleared up the supposed error.</p> +<p>That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped +together, the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the +outfits mingled around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, +old songs were sung, the lusty chorus of which easily reached the +night-herders, and was answered back like a distant refrain.</p> +<p>The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a +wasted step. Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the +foremen and the boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task +before them. The chute had been ironed and bolted the evening +previous, and long before the early rays of the sun flooded the +valley of the Beaver, the first contingent of cattle arrived from +the upper corral.</p> +<p>The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten +grown cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars +fore and aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail +foremen, was quickly over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen +bunches, and before the noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed +under the running irons and bore the new owner's brand or +tally-mark.</p> +<p>Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the +limit of travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing +the railroad a few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was +the railroad depot for settlers' supplies, and the boys were +advised to file their order for corn, and to advance a liberal +payment to insure attention. All details of the ranch seemed well +in hand, the cattle were in good condition to withstand a winter, +and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from age to youth, +the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern for the +future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if the +reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible?</p> +<p>The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On +reaching a divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse +of the Beaver, the cavalcade halted for a parting look.</p> +<p>"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the +hazy valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the +winter."</p> +<p>"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as +decisive as if his own flesh and blood had been insulted.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT</h3> + +<p>The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells +of the plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in +spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept +into the hearts of the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; +shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure +companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their +years. Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast +aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for +hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the struggle for existence, +human affection was almost denied them. A happy home they had never +known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy of remembrance +was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the mire of +their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss was +realized.</p> +<p>Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully +discussed the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive +to watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the +boys to battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, +and on the departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of +the matter at issue.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, +watching the receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us +several miles out and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it +will be my fault if it does."</p> +<p>Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified +his gaze at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful +sufferings flashed through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to +tears, dimmed his eyes. He had learned the lesson that poverty +teaches, unaware that the storm which rocks also roots the oak, but +unable to make the comparison or draw the inference between +surrounding nature and himself. For an instant the horsemen dipped +from view, changing the scene, and a picture rose up, a vision of +the future, of independence, of a day when he would take his place +as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its bridges +burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if encouraged +by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley of the +Beaver.</p> +<p>"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously +answering his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last +divide. "Hold them. I can hold them alone."</p> +<p>"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his +brother into the tent. "We have provisions for a year."</p> +<p>"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost +hissing the words--words which became a slogan afterward.</p> +<p>The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition +mixed and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with +its abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first +four horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at +least for the present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen +horses, fully half of which were fit for saddle, were at the +service of the ranch, ample in number in proportion to the cattle +secured.</p> +<p>It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over +two months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. +With no work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling +farther to the west and south, until any country liable to catch a +winter drift became familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of +every drover had ceased, and the active trail of a month before had +been deserted. The new ranch had no neighbors, the nearest +habitation was on the railroad to the south, and the utter +loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active work. To those +who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in their +daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal +by flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, +the cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman.</p> +<p>The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a +welcome task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance +to the saddle horses, an important feature in withstanding the +coming winter siege. An ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry +weather curing the buffalo grass on the divides, until it was the +equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle of ample grazing until +spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl of snow, a single +angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid Indian summer. Its +coming warned the lads; the order for corn was placed; once a week +the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the ranch was made +snug against the wintry months.</p> +<p>The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree +to deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and +an equal number of round trips would be required to freight the +grain from the railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and +sacked at elevator points, eastward in the State, and in +encouraging emigration the railroad was glad to supply the grain at +cost and freightage.</p> +<p>The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a +deposit, and identification was necessary with the agent. On the +very first trip to Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a +surprise awaited the earnest boy. As if he were a citizen of the +hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, Paul Priest greeted Joel on his +arrival. The old foreman had secretly left a horse with the +railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail crossed, had kept in +touch with the delivery of corn at stations westward, and had timed +his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit to his +protégées.</p> +<p>"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or +accident," said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get +damaged, slippery ground might prevent the placing of a battery at +an opportune moment, or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a +courier with an important order. I feel an interest in your little +ranch, and when I know that everything is done that can be done to +fortify against the coming winter, I'll go home feeling better. +There is such a thing as killing the spirit of a soldier, and if I +were to let you boys try and fail, it would affect your courage to +face the future. That's the reason I've dropped off to take a last +look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got to hold those +cattle."</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, +we're going to hold the herd," simply said the boy.</p> +<p>There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad +that pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters +on the range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the +worst. But come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the +best fight in us, and fail, then we are blameless. But with my +experience, if I let you fail, when you might have won, then I have +done you an injury."</p> +<p>That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline +on which their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of +no shirking on the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to +a change of clean saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully +understood. The death of a horse in which reliance rested, at an +unfortunate moment, might mean the loss of the herd, and a clean, +warm blanket on a cold day was the merciful forethought of a man +for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen blanket must be used on +the Wells ranch.</p> +<p>On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was +necessary, at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of +its terrors by the presence of a veteran of the open. Before +leaving the depot, Priest unearthed a number of bundles, "little +things that might come in handy," among which was a sack of salt +and two empty oak barrels. The latter provoked an inquiry from +Joel, and an explanation was forced at the moment.</p> +<p>"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, +and which was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the +boy's query with a question.</p> +<p>"A mottled beef, branded 7L?"</p> +<p>"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding +him?"</p> +<p>"Dell and I thought it was an oversight."</p> +<p>"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these +barrels, then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has +undergone several Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the +governor's cellar won't have any better corn beef this winter than +the Wells ranch. Seven or eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is +an important item in the winter intrenchments. In fact, it's an +asset to any cow camp. There are so many little things that may +come in handy."</p> +<p>The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a +course that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He +had never been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with +a loaded wagon, he angled away for the sand hills which formed the +divide, sloping away to the branches of the main creek. Noon found +him on the south fork; cattle were encountered near the juncture, +and as he approached the grove, a horseman rode out as if to +dispute the passage of an intruder. The old foreman noticed the +boyish figure and delayed the meeting, reining in to critically +examine cattle which he had branded some three months before. With +diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the wayfarer riding +away on a tangent and veering back on his general course, until +Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted.</p> +<p>"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have +made coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was +spending the day among the cattle."</p> +<p>"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted +Priest; "that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does +that 7L steer range?"</p> +<p>"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied +the boy, repeating and answering the question.</p> +<p>"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman.</p> +<p>The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour +had brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was +overlooked on the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and +the hairy, shaggy, winter coats of the cattle almost hid the +brands, while three to six months' rest on a perfect range was +reflected in the splendid condition of the general herd.</p> +<p>"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't +worry us," said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand +any ordinary winter."</p> +<p>"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range +below the ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. +There's the mottled steer."</p> +<p>They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said +he, "that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. +The adage is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of +intrenchment are encouraging."</p> +<p>The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the +arrival of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between +the brothers, the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, +there were sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy +felting, flannels over and under, as if the boys were being +outfitted for a polar expedition. "It may all come in handy," said +a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on sentinel duty ought to be +made comfortable. In holding cattle this winter, it's part of the +intrenchments."</p> +<p>A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel +was away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while +those left behind busied themselves in strengthening the +commissary. The barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding +water, knives were ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling +out meat. Dell, on the tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, +wondering how this quiet man would accomplish his ends, and unable +to wholly restrain his curiosity.</p> +<p>"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably +marry young, and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know +how to cure corn beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the +lesson is yours. Watch me closely."</p> +<p>The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of +the afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of +cattle, including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down +to the desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to +alertness, and when the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy +instinctively knew that a moment of action was at hand. Without in +the least alarming the other cattle, the cast was made, the loop +opened in mid-air, settled around the horns, cut fast by a jerk of +the rope, and the contest between man and animal began. It was over +in a moment. The shade of a willow was the chosen spot, and as the +cattle were freed, the steer turned, the horseman taking one side +of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping several turns of the +rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant the big fellow +quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and the beef +fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in the +shade of the willow. And it was so easily done.</p> +<p>"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired +Texan, dismounting. "You may bring the knives."</p> +<p>Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark +the beef was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to +drain and cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of +animal heat passed away, and before sunrise the meat was salted +into barrels. Thereafter, or until it was drained of every animal +impurity, the beef was spread on the platform nightly, the brine +boiled and skimmed, until a perfect pickle was secured. It was a +matter of a week's concern, adding to the commissary two barrels of +prime corned beef, an item of no small value in the line of +sustenance.</p> +<p>The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see +what made the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next +morning; "it won't open for me."</p> +<p>Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a +kite, or the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval +noose, "the same principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The +oval must have a heavy side, which you get by letting the Hondo run +almost halfway round the loop, or double on one side. Then when you +make your cast, the light side will follow the heavy, and your loop +will open. In other words, what the feather is to the arrow, the +light side is to the heavy, and if you throw with force, the loop +must open."</p> +<p>It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to +be a fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which +followed, in the saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of +practicing with a rope, while the patient man called attention to +several wrist movements which lent assistance in forming a perfect +loop. The slightest success was repeated to perfection; unceasing +devotion to a task masters it, and before the visit ended, the +perfect oval poised in the air and the rope seemingly obeyed the +hand of Dell Wells.</p> +<p>"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle +business," said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. +Keep them up your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own +personal use. These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. +When I make up an outfit for the trail, I never insist on any +special attainments. Just so he's good natured, and no danger of a +rainy night dampening the twinkle in his eye, that's the boy for +me. Then if he can think a little, act quick, clear, and to the +point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a cow in a month."</p> +<p>In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of +annoyance from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of +suet in the beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, +and a full gallon of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its +needs. While Joel was away after the last load of corn, several +dozen wooden holders were prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk +to the depth of five or six inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, +and the troughs charred and smoked of every trace of human +scent.</p> +<p>That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind +that a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your +cunning against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're +dealing with a crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, +surrounding the bait, every trace of human scent must be avoided. +For that reason, you must handle the holder with a spear or hay +fork, and if you have occasion to dismount, to refill a trough, +carry a board to alight on, remembering to lower and take it up by +rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent of a horse arouses +no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it allays +distrust."</p> +<p>In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned +suet. "After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, +illustrating the process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. +An overdose acts as an emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that +reason, you must pack the tallow in the auger hole, filling from a +half to two thirds full. Force Mr. Wolf to lick it out, administer +the poison slowly, and you are sure of his scalp. You will notice I +have bored the hole in solid wood, to prevent gnawing, and you must +pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, as a crafty wolf will +roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. Keep your holders +out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the loading tools +before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves that may +molest your cattle."</p> +<p>The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. +After the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed +every possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be +foreseen, the only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and +barring the burning of the range from unseen sources, the new ranch +stood prepared to withstand a winter siege. Everything to forefend +against a day of stress or trial had been done, even to instilling +courage into youthful hearts.</p> +<p>"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the +practical man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an +unexpected storm. If a change of weather threatens, point your herd +to meet it, and then if you are caught out, you will have the storm +in your back to drift the cattle home. Shepherds practice that +rule, and the same applies to cattle under herd."</p> +<p>All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back +the extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession +of the boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final +summary of the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the +table, the trail foreman seemingly reluctant to leave.</p> +<p>"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying +with his coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping +in the winter. But the next few months you boys must reverse that +rule. Not that you need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your +vigilance should never sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the +first and last thought of the day, and then I'll get my beauty +sleep this winter. The unforeseen may happen; but I want you to +remember that when storms howl the loudest, your Mr. Quince and I +will be right around the bend of the creek, with our ear to the +ground, the reserves, listening to the good fight you boys are +making. Of course you could call the reserves, but you want the +glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than +show the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the +summer."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>A WINTRY CRUCIBLE</h3> + +<p>The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the +harbingers of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the +forthcoming siege. Great flights of song and game birds, in their +migration southward, lent an accent as they twittered by or honked +in mid-air, while scurrying clouds and squally weather bore witness +of approaching winter.</p> +<p>The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was +freed for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three +best horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from +the railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal +freedom must be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term +<i>close</i> herding would imply grazing the cattle on a section of +land, while <i>loose</i> herding would mean four or five times that +acreage. New routes must be taken daily; the weather would govern +the compactness and course of the herd, while a radius of five +miles from the corral was a liberal range.</p> +<p>The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. +Cold was to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry +atmosphere, there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually +the forerunner of a storm, the approach of which gave little +warning, requiring a sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken +unaware or at a disadvantage.</p> +<p>The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry +bed, and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary +to enter and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, +it was a matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing +the herd to spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as +occasion required. In handling, it was a decided advantage that the +little nucleus had known herd restraint, in trailing overland from +Texas, and were obedient, at a distance of fifty yards, to the +slightest whistle or pressure of a herdsman. Under favorable +conditions, the cattle could be depended on to graze until noon, +when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle homeward was +timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The duties of +each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of the +old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task.</p> +<p>"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said +Dell, as they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. +"My horse never wet a hair to-day."</p> +<p>"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The +first of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow +is only the beginning of December."</p> +<p>"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas."</p> +<p>"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle +this winter. Sit straight in your saddle."</p> +<p>A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early +and late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each +day was taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it +was a daily occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral +and see that all was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on +the part of the boys, either by whistling or singing, was always +given the cattle, and the customary grunting of the herd answered +for its own contentment. A parting look was given the horses, their +forage replenished, and every comfort looked after to the +satisfaction of their masters. By nature, horses are distant and +slow of any expression of friendship; but an occasional lump of +sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present ration of grain, +readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where they +nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders.</p> +<p>The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the +latter to a prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's +favorite, was a veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under +the saddle, restless, with a knowledge of his work that bordered on +the human. Dell favored Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best +point was a perfect rein, and from experience in roping could halt +from any gait on the space of a blanket. The relay horse was named +Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, Spanish marked in a black stripe +down his back, whose limbs were triple-ringed above the knees, or +where the body color merged with the black of his legs. Their names +had followed them from the trail, one of which was due to color +marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's chestnut was easily +traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering into toes.</p> +<p>The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was +preceded by an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south +wind swept the range, while at night a halo encircled the moon.</p> +<p>"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys +strolled up to the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. +"There are three stars inside the circle around the moon. That's +one of Granny Metcalf's signs."</p> +<p>"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old +granny omens may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold +cattle. All advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle +horses and little sleep."</p> +<p>The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the +bluff bank which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on +the contented herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie +of man and his beast was accented anew in their youthful +hearts.</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing +down on the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race +in an age so remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the +pyramids of Egypt were being built, ours was then an ancient +occupation. I love to hear Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!"</p> +<p>The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to +the westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, +each apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually +unerring, and the boys readily recalled the statement of the old +trail foreman, that the howling of wolves was an omen of a +forthcoming storm.</p> +<p>"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll +meet it. Our course to-morrow will be northwest."</p> +<p>It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following +afternoon, a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a +leaden horizon on the west and north. The next breeze carried the +icy breath of the northwest, and the cattle turned as a single +animal. The alert horsemen acted on the instant, and began throwing +the cattle into a compact herd. At the time they were fully three +miles from the corral, and when less than halfway home, the storm +broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow accompanied the gale, +blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad held a point of the +herd and the raging elements could be depended on to bring up the +rear.</p> +<p>It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came +had been anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its +wrath, dropped into the valley just above the corral, where the +boys doubled on the outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate +turned the wandering herd into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by +the storm, instinctively followed the leaders, and the gates were +closed and roped securely.</p> +<p>It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. +We corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter +drift means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of +to-day's storm. We must hold nearer the corral."</p> +<p>The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their +horses, safely reached the stable. A howling night followed; the +wind banked the snow against every obstacle, or filled the +depressions, even sifting through every crack and crevice in the +dug-out. The boys and their mounts were snug within sod walls, the +cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, and the storm wailed +its dirges unheeded.</p> +<p>Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger +and sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily +responded to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, +wind-swept of snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample +grazing for the day. The first storm of the winter had been met, +and its one clear lesson lent a dread to any possible successors. +The herd in the grip of a storm, cut off from the corral, had a new +meaning to the embryo cowmen. The best advice is mere theory until +applied, and experience in the practical things of life is not +transferable.</p> +<p>The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until +Christmas day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that +occasion, expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for +the culinary task, and only requiring his services on corraling the +herd at evening. The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, +knew their bed and water, and on the homeward circle all that was +required was to direct and time the grazing herd. The occasion had +been looked forward to, partly because it was their very own, their +first Christmas spread, and partly on account of some delicacies +that their sponsor had forced on Dell on parting at the railroad, +in anticipation of the day. The bounds of the supper approached a +banquet, and the question of appetites to grace the occasion was +settled.</p> +<p>The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but +the weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on +a northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the +time at which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the +sun and dropped like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds +appeared, and before the herd could be thrown together and started, +a hazy, leaden sky shot up, almost due west, heralding the quarter +of the coming storm. The herd sensed the danger and responded to +the efforts of the horsemen; but before a mile had been covered, it +was enveloped in swirling snow and veering its march with the +course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded the boys as to their +direction; they supposed they were pointing the cattle into the +valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on the +onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the +corral, conjecture as to their location became rife. From the +moment the storm struck, both boys had bent every energy to point +the herd into the valley, but when neither slope nor creek was +encountered, the fact asserted itself that they were adrift and at +the mercy of the elements.</p> +<p>"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!"</p> +<p>"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. +"The creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these +leaders into the valley."</p> +<p>The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of +horses merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent +forged to the front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. +Again and again the boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of +horses, but each effort was futile, as new leaders stepped into the +track of the displaced ones, and the course of the herd was +sullenly maintained.</p> +<p>The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a +crisis like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing +line needed heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, +a rod or two was the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not +trust each other out of sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet +amid all Joel Wells remained in possession of a stanch heart and an +unbewildered mind. "The creek's to our right," was his battle cry. +"Come on; let's turn these lead cattle once more."</p> +<p>Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on +record, but at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware +that the cattle were descending a slope--the welcome, southern +slope of the Beaver valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, +but the shelter of the hillside admitted of veering the herd on its +course, until the valley was reached. No knowledge of their +location was possible, and all the brothers could do was to cross +to the opposite point, and direct the herd against the leeward bank +of the creek. Every landmark was lost, with the herd drifting at +will.</p> +<p>The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse +neighed, was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two +turned a few rods aside and halted at their stable door. Even then +the boys could scarcely identify their home quarters, so enveloped +was the dug-out in swirling snow.</p> +<p>"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no +halting these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the +left. Come on; we must try and hold the herd."</p> +<p>The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, +when the boys resumed their positions on the point and front. +Allowing the cattle to move, assured a compact herd, as on every +attempt to halt or turn it, the rear forged to the front and +furnished new leaders, and in unity lay a hope of holding the +drifting cattle.</p> +<p>The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. +The banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these +meanderings of the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the +sheltering cut-bank that he hoped to reach, where refuge might be +secured against the raging elements. It lay several miles below the +homestead, and if the drifting herd reached the bend before +darkness, there was a fighting chance to halt the cattle in a +protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than the one in which +the corral was built, and if a successful entrance could only be +effected--but that was the point.</p> +<p>"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during +a lull, "and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd +on a direct angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers +to the north, it will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to +shelter the cattle this side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that +entrance, or abandon the herd, and run the chance of overtaking +it."</p> +<p>"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day +we branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute."</p> +<p>"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail +men."</p> +<p>"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they +don't know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. +Remember that story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing +himself across a gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump +over him? You could do that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me +rush them."</p> +<p>It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The +meanderings of the creek were not even recognizable, and only an +occasional willow could be identified, indicating the location of +the present drift. Occasionally the storm thickened or lulled, +rendering it impossible to measure the passing time, and the dread +of nightfall was intensified. Under such stress, the human mind +becomes intensely alert, and every word of warning, every line of +advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came back in their +hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress parade, +with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of their +own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand +waved lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground.</p> +<p>A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near +the entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving +the cattle from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the +cripples. The tree grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon +trail passed under it, making it a favorite halting place when +freighting in supplies. Dell remembered its shade, and taking the +lead, groped forward in search of the silent sentinel which stood +guard at the gateway of the cove. It was their one hope, and by +zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a road, the entrance +to the nook might be identified.</p> +<p>The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle +sheltered in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the +density of the herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, +southern bred and unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their +heads to the knee, indicating, with the closing day, a falling +temperature. Suddenly, and as clear as the crack of a rifle, the +voice of Dell Wells was heard in the lead:--</p> +<p>"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is +won or lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come +quick!"</p> +<p>The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the +day. Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry +wolves at the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into +the eye of the storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill +the drifting herd, new leaders forged to the front and threatened +to carry the drift past the entrance to the pocket. The critical +moment had arrived. Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell +rushed on the volunteer leaders, batting them over the heads, until +they whirled into the angling column, awakened from their stupor +and panic-stricken from the assault of a boy, who attacked with the +ferocity of a fiend, hissing like an adder or crying in the eerie +shrill of a hyena in the same breath. It worked like a charm! Its +secret lay in the mastery of the human over all things created. +Elated by his success, Dell stripped his coat, and with a harmless +weapon in each hand, assaulted every contingent of new leaders, +striking right and left, throwing his weight against their bodies, +and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them into +obedience.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in +line, and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the +bend was reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his +stable, and no sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering +nook, than their voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back +through the column for the first time since the storm struck. +Turning to the support of Dell, the older boy lent his assistance, +forcing the angle, until the drag end of the column had passed into +the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and to Dell's courage, in +the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human is so wondrously +constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one of these +brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring +of one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and +strength, and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to +the contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, +and by merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied +onrush of three thousand beeves.</p> +<p>Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth +across the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an +endless merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, +lowing for mates and cronies, while above howled the elements with +unrelenting fury.</p> +<p>"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for +the night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if +we could start a fire."</p> +<p>"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some +wood," said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail +of the cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire +was soon crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was +found below the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire +threw its shadows over the nook.</p> +<p>A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The +sentinel beat was paced in watches between the boys, the width of +the gateway being about two hundred yards. There was no abatement +of the storm, and it was hours before all the cattle bedded down. +The welfare of the horses was the main concern, and the possibility +of reaching home before morning was freely discussed. The instinct +of the horses could be relied on to find the way to their stable, +but return would be impossible before daybreak. The brothers were +so elated over holding the cattle that any personal hardship was +endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the elements was +noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse and rode +out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning announced +that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach home was +safe.</p> +<p>Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to +sleep out the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses +were given free rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid +galloping home. The snow crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted +their protest at hindrance, vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the +riders to the marrow, but on approaching the homestead the reins +were shaken out and the horses dashed up to the stable door.</p> +<p>"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted.</p> +<p>"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the +star as he swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our +Christmas supper in October."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>GOOD FIGHTING</h3> + +<p>Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had +freshened horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the +horses warmed to the work, and covered the two miles to the bend +before the sun even streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle +around the entrance to the cove, in search of cattle tracks in the +snow, and on finding that none had offered to leave their shelter, +joined his brother at the rekindled fire under the cliff. The +cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy snow underneath having +melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the diversity of +colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with the +surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like +window glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, +sheening the furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise +inflicting no harm.</p> +<p>The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the +interim of waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were +able to get an outline on the drift of the day previous. Both +agreed that the herd was fully five miles from the corral when the +storm struck, and as it dropped into the valley near the +improvements (added to their present location), it had drifted +fully eight miles in something like five hours.</p> +<p>"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he +hovered over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be +on the Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for +breakfast. Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect +day, and within thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all +easy to figure out in advance, but storms don't come by programme. +The only way to hold cattle on these plains in the winter is to put +your trust in corn-fed saddle horses, and do your sleeping in the +summer."</p> +<p>"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell.</p> +<p>"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days +and never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at +night to figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them +up the divide."</p> +<p>The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the +cattle preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around +in bunches until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent +them forth. In spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the +divides and wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle +fell to feeding so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, +and a dinner for boy and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the +valley the snow lay in drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides +and southern slopes, they were grazed to contentment and entered +their own corral at the customary hour for penning. Old axes had +been left at hand, and the first cutting of ice, to open the water +for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an hour, after which they +rode home to a well-earned rest.</p> +<p>Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as +rainbows and stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each +morning, after which the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a +general thaw and warm winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It +was a welcome relief; the cattle recovered rapidly, the horses +proved their mettle, while the boys came out more than victors. +They were inuring rapidly to their new occupation; every experience +was an asset in meeting the next one, while their general fibre was +absorbing strength from the wintry trial on the immutable +plain.</p> +<p>Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the +evening of the second day, a band of three made its appearance, +keeping in the distance, and following up the herd until it was +corraled at the regular hour. While opening the ice, the boys had +turned their horses loose among the cattle, and on leading them out +of the corral, the trio of prowlers had crept up within a hundred +yards. With a yell, the boys mounted and made a single dash at +them, when the wolves turned, and in their hurried departure fairly +threw up a cloud of snow.</p> +<p>"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, +'running like a scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old +Rowdy.</p> +<p>"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, +throwing his mount back on his haunches in halting.</p> +<p>"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll +look for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were +beauties! How I would like to have one of their hides for a +foot-rug!"</p> +<p>"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand +hills," said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger +would make them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all +three!"</p> +<p>Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his +mind to visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The +wolves had located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the +boys were aware of the presence of an enemy.</p> +<p>A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. +No tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing +weather temporarily released the range from the present wintry +grip. A fortnight of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and +frosty nights, ushering in a general blizzard, which swept the +plains from the British possessions to the Rio Grande, and left +death and desolation in its pathway. Fortunately its harbingers +threw its menace far in advance, affording the brothers ample time +to reach the corral, which they did at a late evening hour. The day +had been balmy and warm, the cattle came in, gorged from a wide +circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as if instinctive of +the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even kicking up +their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to reach +headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would strike +or pass away in blustering threats.</p> +<p>It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a +foot had fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, +howling as if all the demons of night and storm were holding high +carnival. Towards morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, +something unknown before, and awoke the boys, shivering in their +blankets. It was near their hour for rising, and once a roaring +fire warmed up the interior of the room, Joel took a peep without, +but closed the door with a shudder.</p> +<p>"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. +"This is a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I +doubt if we can reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor +cattle--"</p> +<p>The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, +well in advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed +the saddle stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself +against the elements without, he announced himself as ready for the +dash. It was less than a dozen rods between shack and stable, and +setting a tallow dip in the window for a beacon, he threw open the +door and sprang out. He possessed a courage which had heretofore +laughed at storms, but within a few seconds after leaving the room, +he burst open the door and fell on the bed.</p> +<p>"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a +blanket over my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll +come around in a little while."</p> +<p>Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than +inflamed eyes and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made +to succor the horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing +themselves together with a long rope, and reached the stable in +safety. On returning, Dell was thrown several times by the +buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, following the rope, +the dug-out was safely reached.</p> +<p>"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once +the shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, +lost my bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes +filled with snow."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0164-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0164-1.jpg" width="496" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">DELL WELLS.</p> +</div> + +<p>There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was +impossible to succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach +the corral, which was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of +the creek was known, and by hugging the leeward bank some little +protection would be afforded and the stream would lead to the +cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, there was a noticeable +abatement in the swirling snow, when the horses were blanketed to +the limit and an effort made to reach the corral. By riding +bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, at least +allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys lost +their course.</p> +<p>The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the +creek on a direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or +dismounting and trampling them out until a pathway was made. +Several times they were able to make a short dash between known +points, and by hugging the sheltering bank of the creek, safely +reached the corral. The cattle were slowly milling about, not from +any excitement, the exercise being merely voluntary and affording +warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, the cattle crowding +around each opening and drinking to their contentment. An immense +comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the bend, in places thirty +feet high and perpendicular, while in others it concaved away into +recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a window. It was +formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, while the +present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque +background to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of +swan's-down.</p> +<p>The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered +the herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the +cattle, given them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only +food was lacking in the present trial. After rendering every +assistance possible, the boys remained at the corral, hoping the +sun would burst forth at evening, only to meet disappointment, when +their horses were given free rein and carried them home in a short, +sure dash.</p> +<p>A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there +was little or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the +cattle were taken out and given every possible chance. The first +noticeable abatement of the storm was at evening of the third day, +followed by a diminishing fourth, when for the first time the herd +was grazed to surfeiting. The weather gradually faired off, the +cattle were recovering their old form, when a freak of winter +occurred. A week from the night the blizzard swept down from the +north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising thawing weather as +a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came with a heavy +snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a freezing +night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and hill +and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice.</p> +<p>It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The +emergency admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles +as do horses and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must +come in the form of human assistance. Even the horses were +helpless, as the snow was too deep under the sleet, and any attempt +to trample out pathways would have left the winter mounts bleeding +and crippled. The emergency demanded men, but two boys came to the +front in a resourceful manner. In their old home in Ohio, threshing +flails were sometimes used, and within an hour after daybreak Joel +Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a trail through the sleet +to the corral.</p> +<p>The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it +with the cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be +broken out. Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell +at the task as if it had been a threshing floor, and their flails +rang out from contact with the icy sleet. By the time they had +reached the divide it was high noon, and the boys were wearied by +the morning task. The crusted snow lay fully six inches deep on an +average, and if sustenance was rendered the cattle, whose hungry +lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy crust must be broken +over the feeding grounds.</p> +<p>It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few +acres," said Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the +cattle. Point them up the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and +come on ahead of the herd. If we can break out a hundred acres, +even, the cattle can nose around and get down to the grass. It's +our one hope."</p> +<p>The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking +out the shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the +feeding herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. +Fortunately the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary +assistance could be rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would +bare the ground on southern slopes and around broken places, +affording ample grazing. The flails rung until sunset, the sleet +was shattered by acres, and the cattle led home, if not +sufficiently grazed, at least with hunger stayed.</p> +<p>An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered +where falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the +corrals at an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The +cattle were aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while +outside the inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf +tracks. The herd, already weakened by the severity of the winter, +had been held under a nervous strain for unknown hours, or until +its assailants had departed with the dawn. The pendulum had swung +to an evil extreme; the sleet afforded splendid footing to the +wolves and denied the cattle their daily food.</p> +<p>"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up +the situation.</p> +<p>"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a +dose of poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be +placed near running water--those were the orders. We've got five +hundred cattle here to succor first. Open the gates."</p> +<p>The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The +sun scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were +beaten out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the +afternoon fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to +feast to its heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired +out the cattle, and it was with difficulty that they were prevented +from lying down in preference to grazing. On such occasions, the +boys threw aside their flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused +the exhausted animals, shifting them to better grazing and holding +them on their feet.</p> +<p>"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," +said Joel, as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something +must be done. Rest seems as needful as food. This is worse than any +storm yet. Half of them are lying down already. We must build a +bonfire to-night. Wolves are afraid of a fire."</p> +<p>Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or +having eaten snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the +herd was alarming, not from want of food, but from the hungry +prowlers of the night. Before leaving, the brothers built a little +fire outside the gate, as best they could from the fuel at hand, +expecting to return later and replenish the wood supply from +headquarters.</p> +<p>The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses +were fed and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry +logs, and from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the +corral opening. It was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, +and the light of the bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy +shadows on the combing snow which formed the upper rim. The night +was crimping cold, and at a late hour the boys replenished the fire +and returned home. But as they dismounted at the stable, the +hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down the valley on the frosty +air, and answered by a band far to the south in the sand hills.</p> +<p>"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for +the distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a +distance until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in +for the night."</p> +<p>Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, +but on every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the +night was to be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the +remainder, principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, +fronting one of the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On +riding within the corral, the dread of the excited cows proved to +be a monster wolf, crouching on a shelf of snow. He arose on his +haunches and faced the horsemen, revealing his fangs, while his +breast was covered with tiny icicles, caused by the driveling +slaver during the night's run. His weight was responsible for his +present plight, he having ventured out on the fragile comb of snow +above, causing it to cave down; and in the bewilderment of the +moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on which he then +rested.</p> +<p>It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and +answers passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was +in hand, the horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, +and yet the boys were powerless to make the kill. The situation was +tantalizing.</p> +<p>"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the +moment.</p> +<p>"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it."</p> +<p>"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility.</p> +<p>"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the +risk of a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't +dismount within twenty feet of him for this herd."</p> +<p>"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which +Mr. Paul killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof."</p> +<p>"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf +go--we can't make the kill."</p> +<p>"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a +roping horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll +lasso that wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre +gatepost and you can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going +to rope a wolf from your back," added Dell, patting the horse's +neck and turning back to the gate. "Show me the mettle of the State +that bred you."</p> +<p>"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. +Whatever happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to +a pinch. I'll get a fence-stay."</p> +<p>Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently +practiced with a rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and +the danger of the present moment surely admitted of no false +calculations. Dell dismounted with a splendid assurance, tightened +the cinches, tied his rope good and firm to the fork of the saddle +tree, mounted, and announced himself as ready. The cattle were +drifted left and right, opening a lane across the corral, and Dell +rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a position at the +gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the working out of +the experiment.</p> +<p>The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell +rode carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each +time, whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal +arose in an attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment +had come, as the horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, +the singing noose shot out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the +next instant Dog-toe whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a +blur behind as he shot across the corral. Only his rider had seen +the noose fall true, the taut rope bespoke its own burden, and +there was no time to shout. For an instant, Joel held his breath, +only catching a swerve in the oncoming horse, whose rider bore down +on the centre post of the double gate, the deviation of course +being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The horse flashed +through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in air, and a +dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The blur +passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death.</p> +<p>Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a +foot's length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle +tree, and thus saved horse and rider from an ugly fall.</p> +<p>"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," +said Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do +you want his hide, or can I have it?"</p> +<p>"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. +I'll have to sit up with you to-night."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a>>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>HOLDING THE FORT</h3> + +<p>The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny +slopes, the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under +cover of ice and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for +the time being and closing over when not in use.</p> +<p>The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the +brothers was to open more grazing ground, and to that end every +energy was bent. The range already opened lay to the north of the +Beaver, and although double the distance, an effort was made to +break out a trail to the divide on the south. The herd was turned +up the lane for the day, and taking their flails, the boys began an +attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as it was fully two miles +to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected by the sun before +high noon.</p> +<p>The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were +brought forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and +assisting in breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet +in width on an average, and by early noon the divide was reached. +Several thousand acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and +depressions running north and south across the watershed, new +grazing grounds could be added daily.</p> +<p>A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been +brought along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the +divide, the sun had softened the crust until it would break under +the weight of either of the boys. By walking well outside the +trail, the sleet crushed to the extent of five or six feet, and by +leading their horses, the pathway was easily doubled in width. +Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, easing from the +frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of thawing +weather.</p> +<p>"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly +freeze a shoal, and I've found one below the corral."</p> +<p>"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, +"but we must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment +the cattle quit drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is +regular old Billy Winter."</p> +<p>"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the +younger boy. "Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water +won't freeze."</p> +<p>"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for +to-night," said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter +for the present.</p> +<p>On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the +splendid trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known +shallow in the creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, +and forcing his horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a +riplet was unearthed as it purled from under an earthen bank.</p> +<p>"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins +and allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for +yourself."</p> +<p>Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, +after emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed +under another arch, its motion preventing freezing.</p> +<p>"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the +horses break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. +We'll build another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits +around this open water."</p> +<p>The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in +home. Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of +the wooden troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the +basins were handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and +dropped from horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure +that the poison would be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass +and a scented trace was made from every quarter, converging at the +open water and tempting baits.</p> +<p>"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't +get a wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done."</p> +<p>"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, +under the comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking +each other's bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except +poisoned suet."</p> +<p>The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought +in to the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight +of the cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of +wolves was at once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the +lads arrived in time to save the life of a young steer. The animal +had grazed beyond the limits of the herd, unconscious of the +presence of a lurking band of wolves, until attacked by the hungry +pack. Nothing but the energetic use of his horns saved his life, as +he dared not run for fear of being dragged down, and could only +stand and fight.</p> +<p>The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the +steer's rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter +of hoofs, they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly +forsook their victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by +easy count, as they halted within two hundred yards and lay down, +lolling their tongues as if they expected to return and renew the +attack.</p> +<p>"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as +the brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!"</p> +<p>"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it +impossible to get food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the +cattle hereafter."</p> +<p>"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said +Dell. "That's not a bad beginning."</p> +<p>"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month +longer, some of these cattle will feed the wolves."</p> +<p>There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was +turned into the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a +distance, the wolves followed, peeping over the divide as the herd +turned down the pathway leading to the corral. Fuel had been +sledded up, and after attending to the details of water and fire, +the boys hurried home.</p> +<p>The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of +the morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest +change was noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the +blizzard, every moderation of the temperature brought more snow or +sleet. Unless a general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any +change in the weather was undesirable.</p> +<p>A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the +boys replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination +covered the limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of +the poison for the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary +to the Beaver, counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. +Day was breaking, the horses were already fed, and he was impatient +for saddles and away.</p> +<p>"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the +stable.</p> +<p>"One," answered Joel.</p> +<p>"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight."</p> +<p>"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your +estimate. Leave a few for luck."</p> +<p>Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the +chickens. Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between +house and corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive +brother, together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed +him--not a dead wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. +Some of the troughs had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of +the poisoned suet had been licked out of the auger holes, while the +snow was littered with wolf tracks.</p> +<p>"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed +the scene and empty basins.</p> +<p>Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for +the number of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the +tallow. That's it; there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste +in each one's mouth. From the looks of the ground, there might have +been fifty wolves."</p> +<p>The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The +brothers awoke to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and +men the unforeseen is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay +down the general rule, and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No +one could foresee that the grip of winter would concentrate and +bring down on the little herd the hungry, roving wolf packs.</p> +<p>"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out +more running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make +new ones, and to-night we'll put out fifty baits."</p> +<p>The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. +Joel took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows +tributary to the corral. Three more were found within easy +distance, when the troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and +taken home to be refilled. It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning +and caution were his helpers; slighting nothing, ever crafty on the +side of safety, he cut, bored, and charred new basins, to double +the original number. After loading, for fear of any human taint, he +dipped the troughs in water and laid them in the shade to freeze. A +second trip with the sled was required to transport the basins up +to the corral, the day's work being barely finished in time for him +to assist in penning the herd.</p> +<p>"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail.</p> +<p>"Sixty odd."</p> +<p>"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all +the afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards +of the cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty."</p> +<p>"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to +do that until after the cattle were corraled."</p> +<p>The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which +would die out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the +cattle time to bed down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was +not the intention of the boys to return, and as they mounted their +horses to leave, all the welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst +forth.</p> +<p>"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a +gesture which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and +the feast is ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or +do you prefer the scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, +juicy kidney suet in the ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, +with fresh water right at hand. Now, have pallets and enjoy +yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, and be merry, for +to-morrow your pelts are mine."</p> +<p>"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel.</p> +<p>"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. +"I'll carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin +peddler."</p> +<p>"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished +his brother. "You're only entitled to one guess."</p> +<p>"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered +Dell with emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy +me."</p> +<p>A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast +was forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as +they covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of +expectation. Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, +on rounding a curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost +unhorsing his rider.</p> +<p>"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll +point them out and you count. There's another! There's two +more!"</p> +<p>It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead +wolves lay around every open water. Some barely turned from the +creek and fell, others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly +wandered away for short distances. The poison had worked to a +nicety; when the victims were collected, by actual count they +numbered twenty-eight. It was a victory to justify shouting, but +the gruesome sight awed the brothers into silence. Hunger had +driven the enemy to their own death, and the triumph of the moment +at least touched one sensitive heart.</p> +<p>"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued +voice, after surveying the ravages of poison.</p> +<p>"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're +soldiering this winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What +would Mr. Paul say if we let the wolves kill our cattle?"</p> +<p>After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, +leaving Dell at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, +revealing the fact that every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf +became the slogan of the present campaign. No mushy sentiment was +admissible--the fighting was not over, and the powder must be kept +dry. The troughs were accordingly sledded into the corral, where +any taint from the cattle would further disarm suspicion, and left +for future use.</p> +<p>The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a +boy. But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which +Forrest, when a cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of +winter-killed cattle with a team. The same principle applied in +pelting a wolf, where by very little aid of a knife, about the head +and legs, a horse could do the work of a dozen men. The corral +fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, Dog-toe could pull his own +weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and theory, when reduced to +the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head once bared, the +carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a gentle pull +from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a second +pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady mounting +and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, and +with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry.</p> +<p>Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs +had evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as +there was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or +attitude.</p> +<p>"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in +Nebraska and the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in +explanation. "Rabbits and other rodents are at home under this +sleet, and what is there to live on but stock? You have to hold the +cattle under the closest possible herd to avoid attack."</p> +<p>"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly +declared Dell. "Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the +wolves lick the bones of their brethren to-night, and to-morrow +I'll spread another banquet."</p> +<p>The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall +that night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but +every additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until +it appeared an open question whether they would fall a prey to the +wolves or succumb to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed +the local storm, during which three head of cattle, cripples which +had not fully recuperated, in the daily march to the divides fell +in the struggle for sustenance and fed the wintry scavengers. It +was a repetition of the age-old struggle for existence--the clash +between the forces of good and evil, with the wolf in the +ascendant.</p> +<p>The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one +wolves fell in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, +not an eye for an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out +looked like a trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every +trace of sentiment for the enemy, in the wintry trial which +followed, died out in the hearts of the boys.</p> +<p>Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves +against the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless +vigilance and sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by +fire and poison, alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle +fall to feed the wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to +the struggling boys.</p> +<p>A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One +morning near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the +corral at an early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a +light kill of wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they +were attempting to make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a +wolf, supposed to be poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, +snapping left and right before falling to the ground. Nothing but +the agility of Rowdy saved himself or rider, who was nearly +unhorsed, from being maimed or killed from the vicious, instant +assault.</p> +<p>The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to +the color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell +shook out his rope.</p> +<p>"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a +mad wolf, or else it's dying."</p> +<p>"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on +his flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just +that position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death."</p> +<p>But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the +victim, and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and +revealing fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the +wolf ran aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck +a strand of wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw +the animal flat, when it again curled its head backward and lay +quiet.</p> +<p>"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it +gets into that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a +live horse under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's +neck by a hand-breadth."</p> +<p>The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored +approach. Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as +the rope settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope +was cautiously wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, +and whirling Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane +leading to the herd's feeding ground to the south. The first +quarter of a mile was an indistinct blur, out of which a horse +might be seen, then a boy, or a wolf arose on wings and soared for +an instant. Suddenly the horse doubled back over the lane, and as +his rider shot past Joel, a fire of requests was vaguely heard, +regarding "a noose that had settled foul," of "a rope that was +being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle a wolf.</p> +<p>Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened +around the wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a +few effectual snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. +Shaking out a loop in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the +other trail, Rowdy carried his rider within easy casting distance, +the lasso hissed through the air, settled true, when two cow-horses +threw their weight against each other, and the wolf's neck was +broken as easily as a rotten thread.</p> +<p>"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the +safety of his saddle.</p> +<p>"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and +kicked the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, +it was thirty feet!"</p> +<p>In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range +cattle history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal +trial in the lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three +days, after the worst blizzard in the history of the range +industry, the siege was lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her +gladness. Sleet cracks ran for miles, every pool in the creek threw +off its icy gorge, and the plain again smiled within her own +limits. Had the brothers been thorough plainsmen, they could have +foretold the coming thaw, as three days before its harbingers +reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of poison, but +instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, not to +return the remainder of the winter.</p> +<p>"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said +Joel to his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring +down a wolf.</p> +<p>"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost +twelve cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll +play that game all winter."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A WINTER DRIFT</h3> + +<p>The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry +siege. If it could be weathered, victory would crown the first good +fight of the boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle +and fortifying against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot +with the plains, the occupation had almost forced itself on them, +and having tasted the spice of battle, they buckled on their armor +and rode forth. Without struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures +of life lose their nectar.</p> +<p>The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had +gradually weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the +elements, and steps must be taken to recuperate the herd.</p> +<p>"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the +thawing weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. +Unless the wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again."</p> +<p>Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen +to the creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the +herd any longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle +winter-killed! Every day during the last month I felt that another +week of winter would take half the herd. It was good fighting, and +I feel like shouting."</p> +<p>"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides +that weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them +all the range they need and only put them under close-herd at +night. There may be squally weather yet, but little danger of a +general storm. After this thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin +their spring ploughing."</p> +<p>A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost +absolute freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only +thrown together at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed +entirely by day, a mile square of dry slope was considered compact +enough for the night. The extra horses, which had ranged for the +winter around Hackberry Grove, were seen only occasionally and +their condition noted. The winter had haired them like llamas, the +sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse paws to the grass, and any +concern for the outside saddle stock was needless.</p> +<p>The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious +to know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his +brother for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire.</p> +<p>"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted +yet. I'm not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure +first."</p> +<p>"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the +younger boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from +them at Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell +them that we've won the fight. The spring's here."</p> +<p>"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will +keep, and we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you +remember the old weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion +and going out like a lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had +better keep an eye on it for fear it goes out like a lion. You can +go to the railroad in April."</p> +<p>There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no +response in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and +refused to come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the +shrub and willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs +of spring carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet +arise and roar like a young lion.</p> +<p>The one advantage of the passing days was the general +improvement in the herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the +buffalo grass, which grew on the slopes and divides, and with three +weeks of fair weather and full freedom the herd as a whole rounded +into form, reflecting its tenacity of life and the able handling of +its owners.</p> +<p>Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, +along the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck +near the middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and +found the cattle scattered to the limits of loose herding, but +under the eyes of two alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the +task, circling the herd on different sides, but before it could be +thrown into mobile form and pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl +of soft snow enveloped horses and riders, cattle and landscape. The +herd turned its back to the storm, and took up the steady, sullen +march of a winter drift. Cut off from the corral by fully five +miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and the brothers rode +to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle.</p> +<p>"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell.</p> +<p>"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, +"nothing short of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the +cattle. We're out until this storm spends its force."</p> +<p>"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and +the wolves are gone."</p> +<p>"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, +we'll miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a +question of horseflesh."</p> +<p>"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse +and overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the +storm."</p> +<p>"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these +cattle through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a +spring squall."</p> +<p>The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the +cattle turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the +compass was lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm +would hold a true course until its wrath was spent, and relying on +that slender thread, the boys attempted to veer the herd for the +sand hills. By nature cattle are none too gregarious, as only under +fear will they flock compactly, and the danger of splitting the +herd into wandering contingents must be avoided. On the march which +lay before it, its compactness must be maintained, and to turn half +the herd into the sand dunes and let the remainder wander adrift +was out of the question.</p> +<p>"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The +cattle are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be +cutting them to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead +unless the swing cattle will follow. It's better to drift until the +storm breaks than to split the herd into little bunches."</p> +<p>"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the +leaders ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in +line."</p> +<p>An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly +made. But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut +the cattle to the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, +the brothers chose to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the +sand hills.</p> +<p>"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated +efforts. "Turn the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An +hour of this wind would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or +die."</p> +<p>"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," +suggested Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after +a pack horse. We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn +this herd."</p> +<p>The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily +keep in a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he +reported the drifting column less than a quarter mile in +length.</p> +<p>"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can +barely hold their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas +drift, they fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day +they act like lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet."</p> +<p>The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for +man and horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver +before nightfall.</p> +<p>"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut +it quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that +Dog-toe has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, +until he just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind +and snow."</p> +<p>"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one +hundred yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country +looks alike. Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above +or below headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you +ought to recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll +take you straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, +some bread and meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour +before daybreak, and you'll find me in the lead of the herd."</p> +<p>The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in +their lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar +that sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was +always the hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle +would gladly halt and bed down, which promise lightened the passing +time. The work was easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of +the leaders, that the rear might easily follow, was the task of the +night or until relieved.</p> +<p>On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure +in his ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul +weather, he had barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver +when darkness fell. The horse was easily quartering the storm, but +the pelting snow in the boy's face led him to rein his mount from a +true course, with the result that several miles was ridden without +reaching any recognizable landmark. A ravine or dry wash was +finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a matter of +precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and +allowed his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the +eye of the storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason +was abandoned and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the +confident boy mounted his horse and took up his former course, +almost crossing the line of storm on a right angle. A thousand +visible forms, creatures of the night and storm, took shape in the +bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after dismounting and mounting +unknown times, he floundered across Beaver Creek fully three miles +below headquarters.</p> +<p>The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to +his horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and +champing the bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a +burning match revealed the outlines of a road under the soft snow. +The horse was given rein again and took the road like a hound, +finally sweeping under a tree, when another halt was made. It was +the hackberry at the mouth of the cove, its broken twigs bespoke a +fire which Dell had built, and yet the mute witness tree and +impatient horse were doubted. And not until Dog-toe halted at the +stable door was the boy convinced of his error.</p> +<p>"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot +more than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled +with me like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if +he'll forgive me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable +door.</p> +<p>The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you +shall have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if +you'll just forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night +will never be forgotten."</p> +<p>It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even +though the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its +cost. Before offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles +that were to make up the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm +forward an hour, and sought his blankets for a short rest. Several +times the howling of the wind awoke him, and unable to sleep out +the night, he arose and built a fire. The necessity of a pack +saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting a blanket, at the +appointed hour before dawn he started, with three days' rations for +man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw March wind +blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he reached +the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the +course of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the +mushy snow. A bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo +wallow; three others were passed, feeding with the wind, and +finally the sun burst forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie +Dog.</p> +<p>Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, +sustenance was following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened +in the snow, narrowed and broadened, and near the middle of the +forenoon the scattered herd was sighted. The long yell of warning +was answered only by a tiny smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek +bed, and before Joel was aware of his presence, Dell rode up to the +very bank under which the fire was burning.</p> +<p>"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do +snowballs taste for breakfast?"</p> +<p>"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope +this is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any +romance in it."</p> +<p>The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of +yourself," urged Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How +did you make out during the night?"</p> +<p>"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my +medicine," replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I +sang. You have no idea how good company cattle are. One big steer +laid his ear in Rowdy's flank to warm it. I took him by the horn +any number of times and woke him up; he was just staggering along +asleep. I talked to all the lead cattle, named them after boys we +knew at school, and sometimes they would look up when I called to +them. And the queerest thing happened! You remember old Redman, our +teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last night. There was a +black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and every time I +looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, his pug +nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen drift, +to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me +a score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's +face and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black +steer dropped back and never came to the lead again."</p> +<p>"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted +by his own experience.</p> +<p>"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might +get lost, but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, +and the cattle were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I +got my bearings, Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the +drift."</p> +<p>A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, +the horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on +the return. During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the +stragglers, and towards evening all the cattle were put under loose +herd and pointed north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a +comfortable camp was made under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the +Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank stalks of the wild sunflower made a +good substitute for fuel, and night settled over human and animal +in the full enjoyment of every comfort.</p> +<p>It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of +pack horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an +easy berth on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of +the horse's body girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and +the corn and blankets laid within the pack and all lashed securely. +The commissary supplies being light, saddle pockets and cantle +strings were found sufficient for their transportation.</p> +<p>The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several +miles the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would +require nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, +nothing like a compact herd or driving was permissible, and the +cattle were allowed to feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed +along the flank, the boys walked as a relief, and near evening or +on sighting the dunes, Dell took the pack horse and rode for their +shelter, to locate a night camp. The herd never swerved from its +course, and after sunset Joel rounded the cattle into compact form +and bedded them down for the night. A beacon fire of plum brush led +him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where supper awaited the +brothers.</p> +<p>"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, +"that the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had +to build fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail +men, could we do it?"</p> +<p>"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You +seem to forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. +Be grateful. Thank the wolf and go to sleep."</p> +<p>"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I +wish Mr. Paul could see it."</p> +<p>"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many +rousing fires."</p> +<p>Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, +the sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all +was quiet.</p> +<p>"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell +at daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the +first time we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into +three good feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have +the whole hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of +this camp, all worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. +So long as we hold the cattle, who cares for expense."</p> +<p>The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring +day lent its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the +afternoon the watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope +clown to the Beaver was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks +turned in, the rear pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd +found expression in loud and continued lowing.</p> +<p>"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being +killed," observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after +a pack horse, these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure +that we would lose a hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof."</p> +<p>"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I +fully expected to see our back track strung with dead animals."</p> +<p>The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. +Little wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's +experience, failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, +similar to the one which provoked the observation of the brothers, +may explain those placid depths, the deep tenacity and latent power +of the herd.</p> +<p>After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive +freighting outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred +oxen were employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were +encountered, the wagons were loaded beyond the strength of the +teams, and the oxen had arrived at the fort exhausted, spiritless, +and faint to falling under their yokes. Many oxen had been +abandoned as useless within one hundred miles of the post, thus +doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, these +scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the +wagon train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of +all the oxen were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. +One day a boy blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and +charged among his fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to +powder! The loose oxen broke from the herders, tore past the column +of wagons, frenzied in voice and action. The drivers lost control +of their teams, bedlam reigned, and the entire wagon train joined +in the general stampede. Wagons were overturned and reduced to +kindling in a moment of the wildest panic. The drivers were glad to +escape with their lives and were left at the rear. A cloud of dust +merely marked the direction which the oxen had taken. The teams, +six to eight yoke each, wrenched their chains, broke the bows, and +joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, still under yoke, were +found the next day fifteen miles distant from the scene of the +incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a month +previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that +the spirit of their teams was killed.</p> +<p>When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward +and given its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy +gradually crept far to the lead, and as the brothers left the +cattle and bore off homeward, the horse took up a gentle trot, +maintaining his lead until the stable was reached.</p> +<p>"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. +"That horse knows more than some folks."</p> +<p>"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his +horse's neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it +myself some day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of +myself."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A WELCOME GUEST</h3> + +<p>The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was +ushered in to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the +pollen on the willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed +underfoot, and the creek purled and sang as it hastened along. The +cattle played, calves were born, while the horses, in shedding +their winter coats, matted the saddle blankets and threw off great +tufts of hair where they rolled on the ground.</p> +<p>The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon +returning far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted +Joel, on coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price +for a few weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. +The storekeeper was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a +hundred dollars on the shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from +two to two dollars and a half. And I have a letter from Forrest. +The long winter's over! You can shout! G'long, mules!"</p> +<p>During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. +"Keep busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water +supply and plan to acquire more cattle."</p> +<p>"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams +between here and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, +and he'll explain things when he comes. Once a week will be often +enough to ride around the cattle."</p> +<p>An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. +The garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired +around the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites +for two other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was +ample to fill large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for +use during the dry summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of +the ranch could be greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around +headquarters had withstood every drouth, owing to the shade of the +willows overhead, the roots of which matted and held the banks +intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were accordingly cut for the +new dams and the work begun in earnest.</p> +<p>"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced +Joel. "It would waste too much time to go and come. When we build +the upper one, we can work from home."</p> +<p>The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built +several miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the +creek, merely to hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow +cuttings were planted along the borders and around the dams, the +ends of which were riprapped with stone, and a spillway cut to +accommodate any overflow during freshets.</p> +<p>The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, +and the reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. +The unusual winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the +ground, and the grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, +while the garden grew like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year +before had repaid well in forage, and was again planted. In the +face of another drouthy summer, the brothers sowed as if they fully +expected to reap. "Keep busy" was the slogan of the springtime.</p> +<p>The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. +Nearly one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the +peltry had commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers +swaggered in their saddles. But still the herds failed to come.</p> +<p>"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were +expecting company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some +of these evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the +lead of his herd. Let's make out that we're looking for them."</p> +<p>Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail +man appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of +the second week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen +of them on the trail."</p> +<p>"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion.</p> +<p>"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all +swim. Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon +across swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is +nothing to those trail men."</p> +<p>Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of +hail, Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the +two rolled over and over on the grass.</p> +<p>"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," +explained Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are +my boys. Look at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two +mothers. Boys, shake hands with Mr. Lovell."</p> +<p>The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. +He was a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, +with an energy that pulsed in every word and action. There was a +careworn expression in his face, while an intensity of purpose +blazed from hungry, deep-set eyes which swept every detail of the +scene at a glance. That he was worried to the point of exhaustion +was evident the moment that compliments were exchanged.</p> +<p>"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, +if I am correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from +Dodge to the Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the +worst drouths in the history of the trail confronts us, and if you +can water my cattle between the Prairie Dog and the Republican +River, you can name your own price."</p> +<p>"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the +blackboard, "before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. +Lovell the water."</p> +<p>All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the +single seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek +were five beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows +interlapped. The pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, +the quartette turned homeward, satisfied of the abundant water +supply.</p> +<p>"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest +to his employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of +the sun that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the +pools until the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver."</p> +<p>"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--"</p> +<p>"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in +this ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the +asking. Am I right, boys?"</p> +<p>"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly +replied Joel.</p> +<p>"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man +Joel Wells that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, +these boys of mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not +out to rob a neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking +Water, you can order the herds to pull out for the Platte."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get +the water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a +man his price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm +welcome to it for nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they +come bearing gifts. Are you three plotting against me?"</p> +<p>"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe +all right. In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact +that you have five horses on this ranch. They were left here last +fall, expecting to pick them up this spring. Two of them were +cripples and three were good cow horses. Now, these boys of mine +are just branching out into cattle, and they don't need money, but +a few good horses are better than gold. That's about the plot. What +would you say was the right thing to do?"</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But +I'm still in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?"</p> +<p>The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds +reach here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a +number of tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it +through without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a +fighting chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent +in an abandoned steer for you, but these boys--"</p> +<p>"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. +"I'll give all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are +worthless to me, but good as gold to these boys. What else?"</p> +<p>"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, +speak a good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I +think you'll find them on the square."</p> +<p>"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he +alighted at the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla +will not exceed five thousand dollars. It cost me double that +getting out of Texas."</p> +<p>Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside +drouth, which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the +trail as in other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the +concentration of a year's drive into a more limited space of time. +Unconscious of its value, the boys awoke to the fact that they +controlled the only water between the Prairie Dog and the +Republican River--sixty miles of the plain. Many of the herds were +under contract and bond to cattle companies, individuals, army +posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse would be accepted for any +failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an ill-wind to some, but +the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could extend relief.</p> +<p>After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest +had unearthed the winter struggle of his protégés, +and gloating over the manner in which the boys had met and overcome +the unforeseen, he assumed an observant attitude in addressing his +employer.</p> +<p>"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," +said he, "to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, +here on the Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of +over five hundred cattle. And you must recollect that these were +rag-tag and bob-tail, the flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per +cent cripples, walking on crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, +under herd, a sleet over the range for six weeks, against your ten +per cent kill on an open range. You must have a slatterly, +sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle +interests. "That was a first report that you are quoting from," +said he to Forrest. "It was more prophecy than statement. We must +make allowances for young men. There is quite a difference between +getting scared and being hurt. My beef outfit has orders to go +three hundred miles south of our range and cover all round-ups +northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift was heavy, but I'm +not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. Promptly meeting +government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are two weeks +behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. Help me +figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel.</p> +<p>"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night."</p> +<p>"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of +these boys can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound +train. Wire your beef herds to pull out for the Platte. You can +trust the water to improve from here north."</p> +<p>"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman.</p> +<p>"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That +will cover the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, +and time our drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud."</p> +<p>"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get +an extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my +bonds will amount to a fortune."</p> +<p>"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The +government don't expect the impossible."</p> +<p>"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts +a bond, and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks +the plank, it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not +how much sleep I lose, red tape never worries."</p> +<p>The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. +"The programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the +latter. "The horses will be ready at daybreak."</p> +<p>It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part +of the brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the +drover, and a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every +way.</p> +<p>"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," +said Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman +in a thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's +rather deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him +about the men on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter +kill when they could drift, and the round-up will catch every +living hoof. He was too foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this +long yell about the drouth interfering with delivery dates keeps +the trail outfits against the bits. Admitting his figures, the +water expense won't be a drop in the bucket. It affords good +worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting form. I'm glad he +came along; treat him fair and square, and his friendship means +something to you, boys."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>AN ILL WIND</h3> + +<p>The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the +morning. Joel accompanied the drover, the two best horses being +under saddle, easily capable of a road gait that would reach the +railroad during the early forenoon. The direct course lay across +country, and once the sun flooded the Beaver valley, the cowman +swung around in the saddle and his practical eye swept the range. +On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken country beyond, including +the sand hills, he turned to his guide.</p> +<p>"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future +before you. This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our +horses' feet carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have +the range here for thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy +young steers; pay any price; but get more cattle. The growth of +young steers justifies any outlay. Come down to Dodge about the +first of August. This drouth is liable to throw some bargains on +that market. Be sure and come. I'll keep an eye open in your +interest on any cattle for sale."</p> +<p>The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were +not entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of +the brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the +team stood in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of +sight to the south the buckboard started on its northern errand. +Dell accompanied it, protesting against his absence from home, but +Forrest brushed aside every objection.</p> +<p>"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we +may be back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. +Turn your ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't +halfway through our figuring."</p> +<p>Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the +north, the same day that Forrest and his employer started up the +trail from the south, and at the expected point the two foremen +met. The report showed water in abundance from the Republican River +northward, confirming Forrest's assertion to his employer, and +completing the chain of waters between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest +returned with the buckboard, which reached the Beaver after +midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep.</p> +<p>"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of +Joel's bunk, "that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good +fighting. Yes, I heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I +was with you the night you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all +along the line, wasn't it good fighting?"</p> +<p>"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets.</p> +<p>"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of +the March drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't +trust poor old Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down +the creek here a few miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the +horse forgot more than he himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. +As long as a man hearkens to his horse, there is no danger of bad +counsel being thrust on him."</p> +<p>The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the +exacting nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, +and while harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention +to setting the ranch in order to water the passing herds.</p> +<p>"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas +fever among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd +until after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry +Grove, and keep a dead-line fully three miles wide between the +wintered and through trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, +cripples or strays, hold them down the creek--between here and the +old trail crossing. For fear of losing them you can't even keep +milk cows around the ranch, so turn out your calves. Don't ask me +to explain Texas fever. It's one of the mysteries of the trail. The +very cattle that impart it after a winter in the north catch the +fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a mild form, in +through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or northern +wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The sure, +safe course is to fear and avoid it."</p> +<p>The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in +charge of Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had +ridden to the Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a +moment at parting.</p> +<p>"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing +ten days to reach here--"</p> +<p>He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, +come out on the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you +will see a dust cloud in the south. The long distance between +waters will put the herd through on schedule time. Come out and +meet me."</p> +<p>The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were +over. The herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised +relief to the drover and his cattle.</p> +<p>"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is +from one to three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped +from sight. "The government, so he says, allows three cents for +watering cavalry horses and harness mules. He tells me that the new +settlers, in control of the water on the trail, in northern Texas, +fairly robbed the drovers this year. The pastoral Texan, he +contends, shared his canteen with the wayfarer, and never refused +to water cattle. He wants us to pattern after the Texans--to give +our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell raised the question +of arranging to water his herds from our beaver ponds, do you +remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad money +wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses."</p> +<p>"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said +Joel, "but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He +says we must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in +August, and I'm going."</p> +<p>Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. +"Any one tell your fortune lately?"</p> +<p>"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. +One of those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand +here and you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range +had a value, and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, +and stock it. What he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. +Lovell sees now, you may see a year hence. These men have proved +their friendship, and why stand in our own light? Our ability to +hold cattle was tested last winter, and if this range is an asset, +there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm going to Dodge in +August."</p> +<p>Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in +order. Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling +in to headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on +the general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to +the Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that +the cattle might reach the former river the following evening. The +brothers knew to a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the +trailing pace, and could anticipate to an hour the time required to +move a herd from the Prairie Dog to the Beaver.</p> +<p>The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. +The dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between +imaginary landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a +sentinel, stood a lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt +thou go and no farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of +condition, were brought home and located below the ranch, and the +house stood in order.</p> +<p>The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach +the divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the +Beaver, the leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty +cattle that had scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the +heavy beeves identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point +man, the situation cleared.</p> +<p>"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?"</p> +<p>"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next +swell of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on.</p> +<p>It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd +snailed forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety +of color, the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral +picture of strength and beauty.</p> +<p>The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the +opposite side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, +and while the two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing +lad on the left reined out and saluted the boys.</p> +<p>With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember +the day we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?"</p> +<p>"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man +across the herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty +greeting.</p> +<p>"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the +lad who rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking +hands. Turn your horses the other way and tell me how you like it +out West."</p> +<p>Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves +was fully a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, +the wagon and remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman +still at the rear. The dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the +distance, and while Joel pondered on its location over the divide, +a horseman emerged from a dip in the plain and came toward him in a +slow gallop.</p> +<p>"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, +slacking his horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which +swell was the real divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch +last summer, but the frost has mellowed up the soil and the grass +has overgrown the paths until every trace is gone. I planted a +guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's Trail,' so the other foremen +will know where to turn off. All the old man's herds are within +three or four days' drive, and after that it's almost a solid +column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of the rear +herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle."</p> +<p>The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle +stock, but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been +dropping our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will +bring them through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going +to saw off three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, +good for next year."</p> +<p>A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions +given the point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once +man and boy had fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was +given and the cattle turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. +The wagon and remuda never halted; on being joined by the two +horsemen, they continued on into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the +hour named to water the herd, and punctual to the moment the +beeves, with a mile-wide front, were grazed up to the creek.</p> +<p>The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner +was over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in +mimicking a trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd +was within sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in +below the ranch for the noon camp.</p> +<p>Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own +men. "Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out +to-night. I may not be with you, but water in the Republican at six +o'clock to-morrow evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he +concluded, addressing the segundo.</p> +<p>The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to +quench thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the +strong, and the excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and +thirsty. An hour is the minimum time, during which half the herd +may drink and lie down, affording the others the chance to approach +without fear and slake their thirst.</p> +<p>The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the +water were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, +while the others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. +The previous scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy +beeves, equally select with the vanguard, floundered into the +pools, lowed in their joy, drank to gorging, fought their fellows, +staggered out of the creek, and dropped to rest in the first dust +or dry grass.</p> +<p>Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, +when he and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, +and sent the second herd on its way. Each of the three advance +herds must reach the Republican the following day, and it was scant +two o'clock when the third one trailed out from the Beaver. With +mature cattle there were few cripples, and the day ended with an +addition to the little ranch of the promised horses and a few +tender-footed beeves. There were two more herds of heavy beef +cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next forenoon, and +the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, intended for +army delivery, had passed the ranch.</p> +<p>The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From +that far distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages +the one has ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds +promptly reached the Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, +and passed on before noon.</p> +<p>"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when +the last herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six +herds of contract cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of +beeves, but Mr. Lovell detailed him to oversee this next division +across to the Platte. Forrest will follow Quirk with the last five +herds of young steers, slated for the old man's beef ranch on the +Little Missouri. That puts our cattle across the Beaver, but you'll +have plenty of company for the next month. Mr. Lovell has made a +good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll give these trail +drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, there are two +things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, and that +the cows will calve in the spring."</p> +<p>Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. +Before dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon +and remuda, and returned to the tent.</p> +<p>"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping +his saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for +water this year that every foreman seems to think that unless he +reaches the river to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart +was the limit agreed on before leaving Dodge, and here I am with +six herds--twenty thousand cattle!--within twenty miles of the +Beaver. For fear of a stampede last night, we threw the herds left +and right, two miles off the trail. The Lord surely loves cattle or +the earth would have shook from running herds!"</p> +<p>That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the +Lovell herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the +boys with his usual rough caress.</p> +<p>"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through +with the two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and +an extra man to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and +friends, will be lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch +while you're gone. One of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, +remember. I'll meet you to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the +cripples out and point them in to the new tanks below. Shake out +your fat horses, sweat them up a little--you're needed at the rear +of Lovell's main drive."</p> +<p>The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear +herds reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to +safe camps beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef +at headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty +where the year before he lay wounded.</p> +<p>The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The +lead one yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard +disgorged a few over one hundred head. The two contingents were +thrown together, the brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, +where they were freed on a perfect range. A count of the cripples +and fagged cattle, culled back at headquarters, brought the total +discard of the sixteen herds up to two hundred and forty-odd, a +riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a young steer to a +seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the reckoning.</p> +<p>Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, +had reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was +to be had in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with +interest, and once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, +Forrest and the brothers rode around the pools to take +soundings.</p> +<p>"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss +runs from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the +heaviest," said Joel, summing up the situation.</p> +<p>"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average +of five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the +reason it's standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the +stars, but the water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell +those waiting foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch +will water every trail herd, or break a tug trying."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>WATER! WATER!</h3> + +<p>"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of +trail foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out +better than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a +trifle. From the present outlook, we can water the drive."</p> +<p>"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" +trail boss. "I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw +River at Dodge was only running at night."</p> +<p>"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," +doggedly said a pock-marked foreman.</p> +<p>"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W +man. "The faraway hills are always green."</p> +<p>The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the +total drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, +addressing the pock-marked foreman.</p> +<p>"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty +thousand head," came the languid reply.</p> +<p>"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to +Joel. "Better revise your water estimate."</p> +<p>"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I +may have to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle."</p> +<p>"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, +arising. "My cattle must have water this evening."</p> +<p>The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we +drop our strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that +Mr. Lovell mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be +abandoned."</p> +<p>"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the +little man.</p> +<p>"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear +ones have orders to bring through to you."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our +range, and crippled cattle are as good as gold to us."</p> +<p>Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys +followed, and Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on +the drag end of your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll +get up a fresh horse and overtake you."</p> +<p>"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign +your petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm +as good as afoot."</p> +<p>The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," +said Joel to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the +lead herd, come in on the water above the field. The upper pools +are the deepest, and let your cattle cover the water evenly."</p> +<p>"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to +come up to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have +suffered from thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, +if grazed up to it. You may take one point and I'll take the +other."</p> +<p>The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. +Among the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. +Wells Brothers were being thrown in contact with the most practical +men that the occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The +novelty of trailing cattle vast distances had its origin with the +Texans. Bred to the calling, they were masters of the craft. In the +hands of an adept outfit of a dozen men, a trail herd of three +thousand beeves had all the mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The +crack of a whip was unheard on the trail. A whispered order, +followed by a signal to the men, and the herd turned, grazed to its +contentment, fell into column formation, and took up its march--a +peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact with these +men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the +boys.</p> +<p>The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a +mile of the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel +Wells. But instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on +into the lead, the action being seemingly understood by every one +except the new hand on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive +column of beeves yield to his slightest pressure, as a ship to the +hand of the helmsman, as he veered the leaders out of the broken +trails and guided the herd around the field to the upper pools. On +nearing the water, the deposed point men deployed nearer the lead, +when the object of their position explained itself. On sighting the +ponds, the leaders broke into a run, but the four horsemen at hand +checked the excited dash, and the herd was led up to the water in +column formation. It was the mastery of man over the creature.</p> +<p>The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The +swarthy little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an +Indian agency in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under +contract to different cattle companies, in adjoining states and +territories. The tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but +the point of delivery was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch +outfit would receive the cattle.</p> +<p>The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven +on speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, +and the men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot.</p> +<p>"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, +"of walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A +mount of six horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it +won't do on the trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on +the Platte. Actually, this afternoon is the first time I have felt +a horse under me since we crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of +paper, please. I want to give you a bill of sale for these six drag +ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I carry written authority to +give a bill of sale, and it will always protect your possession of +the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a head in Ogalalla, but +when they round into form again next summer, some brand ferret +passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I cull out +here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned."</p> +<p>The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. +The rush of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during +their waking hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting +of cripples to the new tanks below was pressing, and order must be +established. The water in the pools was the main concern, a thing +beyond human control, and a matter of constant watchfulness. A +remark dropped during the day, of water flowing at night, was not +lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells.</p> +<p>"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W +foreman, while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only +running at night?"</p> +<p>"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by +day," replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of +the plain, including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the +south, only flow at night. It's their protection against the sun's +absorption. Mark these pools at sunset and see if they don't rise +an inch to-night. Try it and see."</p> +<p>Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. +The extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was +indulged in and freely expressed.</p> +<p>"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, +sleepless in his blankets, "it'll double our holding of +cattle."</p> +<p>"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got +to stand by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the +Republican. I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are +gone, we'll round up the wintered cattle, drift them over to the +south fork of the Republican, and get some one to hold them until +frost falls. Then we'll ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, +and that will free the new tanks--water enough for twenty trail +herds. We have the horses, and these trail outfits will lend us any +help we need. By shifting cattle around, I can see a month's +supply. And there may be something in water rising at night. We'll +know in the morning."</p> +<p>Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the +trail foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss +knew," shouted Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The +water rose in every pool. The lower one gained an inch and the +upper one gained two. The creek is running freely. The water must +be rising out of the ground. Let those Texans bring on their herds. +We have oceans of water!"</p> +<p>The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new +ranch. It took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared +for, and a hand was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag +end. Open house was maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered +a horse, and left his benediction on the Beaver.</p> +<p>The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first +foremen to arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up +at sunset, with a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual +easy manner inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?"</p> +<p>"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising +the situation. "One of your men hurt?"</p> +<p>"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. +"Just a little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant +water, out of cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets +into the bones of the best of us. I'm not feeling very well +myself."</p> +<p>Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the +poor fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you +and I carry him?"</p> +<p>"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him +in," answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel +Wells?"</p> +<p>"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and +we'll bring the sick man in at once."</p> +<p>It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. +The unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, +Straw had skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules.</p> +<p>"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after +greeting Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one +of the trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has +to go back to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify +them for the trip."</p> +<p>The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued +Straw, "by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the +best men that ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him +on his feet again. Now, if one of you boys will take the team back +to--"</p> +<p>"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this +hospital wants done--We're running a relief station now--watering +the entire drive this year. Where's your outfit camped?"</p> +<p>"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's +empty. Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in +time for breakfast."</p> +<p>"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, +is a horse that's easy curried."</p> +<p>The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time +the sick man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his +cattle made welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, +Straw had lost his place in the overland march, two herds having +passed him and crossed the Beaver.</p> +<p>"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who +arrived together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter +that'll rob you right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the +bill in advance. This cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth +three cents a head, and I'll count you down to a toddling calf and +your wagon mules. Your drafts are refused honor at the Beaver +banks--nothing but the long green passes currency here. You +varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage of a widow +woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me."</p> +<p>"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of +the foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept +with me? How's the black cow I gave you last summer?"</p> +<p>Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" +said he, recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. +Sit down. Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like +lettuce?"</p> +<p>"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the +two mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in +smoke. You're not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, +ransack both our wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some +dainties for this sick lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; +he never has anything to eat; Injuns won't go near his wagon."</p> +<p>Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, +make yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and +they're our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when +you get on your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count +on a job with me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit +is relieved. This fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. +I'll keep an eye over you until you are well. S'long, Jack."</p> +<p>The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. +There were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of +advancing summer the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources +of the ponds were a constant source of surprise, as an occasional +heavy beef caved a foot into an old beaver warren, which poured its +contents into the pools. At the end of the first fortnight, after +watering fifty-eight herds, nearly half the original quantity of +water was still in reserve.</p> +<p>A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the +arrival of herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water +reserves suffered freely, more from the sun's absorption than from +cattle, until the supply became a matter of the most serious +concern. The pools would not have averaged a foot in depth, the +flow from the springs was a mere trickle, the beaver burrows +sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and there must be some limit +to the amount the parched soil would yield.</p> +<p>The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the +second week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack +Sargent, was up and observant of the situation. True to his +calling, he felt for the cattle, and knew the importance of water +on the Beaver to the passing drive.</p> +<p>"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the +emergency. "Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun +an advantage. It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You +must deepen these pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest +these ponds a few days, or only water late at night. You have water +for weeks yet, but don't let the sun rob you. These ponds are +living springs compared to some of the water we used south of Red +River. Meet the herds on the divide, and pilot the early ones to +the tanks below, and the late ones in here. Shifting in your saddle +rests a horse, and a little shifting will save your water."</p> +<p>The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was +installed as host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their +saddles. The majority of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and +after a consultation with the foremen their cattle were started so +as to reach the tanks by day or the ranch at evening. The month +rounded out with the arrival of eighteen herds, only six of which +touched at headquarters, and the fourth week saw a distinct gain in +the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys barely touched at +home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, piloting in +herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and content +with the crumbs that fell to their range.</p> +<p>The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral +history of the West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana +cattle trail was marked by the bones of forty thousand cattle that +fell, due to the want of water, during the months of travail on +that long march. Some of this loss was due to man's inhumanity to +the cattle of the fields, in withholding water, but no such charge +rested on the owners of the little ranch on the Beaver.</p> +<p>A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's +drive. Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had +strength in reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and +Platte Rivers. The fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which +touched at the ranch; half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had +neither a cripple nor a stray to bestow, but shared the welcome +water and passed on.</p> +<p>One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It +was from Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous +invitation to come to Dodge and look over the market.</p> +<p>"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have +returned to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is +inviting. The boom prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. +Any investment in cattle now is perfectly safe.</p> +<p>"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will +pass your ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring +a mount of horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this +year's drive is here, unsold. Be sure and come."</p> +<p>"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter.</p> +<p>"I am," answered Joel with emphasis.</p> +<p>"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap +that no other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to +buy her. Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to +buy or all want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys +have told me; but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I +can see that he's going to take advantage of that market and buy +about ten thousand cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. +I'll stay with Dell until you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, +and I'll help you hold them this winter."</p> +<p>The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust +cloud, the slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching +cavalcade. The last week admitted of taking an account of the +cattle dropped at the new ranch. From the conserves of its owners, +one hundred and four herds had watered, over three hundred thousand +cattle, the sweepings of which amounted to a few over eleven +hundred head, fully fifty of which, exhausted beyond recovery, died +after reaching their new range.</p> +<p>By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August +was ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the +division foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the +morning, in advance of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for +Joel. Dell answered for the brothers, the older one and Sargent +being above at Hackberry Grove.</p> +<p>"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. +"Make haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of +six horses and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the +seventh. My outfit will barely touch here in passing. We're due to +receive cattle in Dodge on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can +overtake us before night. Make haste."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>A PROTECTED CREDIT</h3> + +<p>The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. +The importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, +he started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were +met returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the +breathless report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the +homeward ride.</p> +<p>"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging +out of the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a +feed of corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince +says that that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a +camp at night, or trail a remuda like a hound."</p> +<p>An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a +wild-goose chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I +can make a hand coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your +name goes on the pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of +the ranch, anyhow. There isn't much to do except to ride the +dead-line twice a day. The wintered cattle are located; and the +cripples below--the water and their condition will hold them. Keep +open house, and amuse yourselves the best you can. That's about all +I can think of just now."</p> +<p>Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his +years, he was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, +the far-famed trail-town of the West, and without visible resources +buy cattle, was a fit subject for musing. There the drovers from +Texas and the ranchmen from the north and west met and bartered for +herds--where the drive of the year amounted to millions in value. +Still the boy carried a pressing invitation from a leading drover +to come, and neither slacking rein nor looking back, he was soon +swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain.</p> +<p>Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said +the latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy +cattle without money gets me."</p> +<p>"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured +a start in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a +thousand head out of the cripples this year, what have they cost +you?"</p> +<p>"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market +where buyers and sellers meet."</p> +<p>"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of +two years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in +Texas. Cattle companies were organized on the very summit of that +craze. Then came the slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price +nearly forty per cent. This year there is a further falling. I'm +giving you Texas conditions. Half the herds at Dodge to-day are +being handled by the receivers of cattle companies or by trustees +for banks. That accounts for the big drive. Then this drouth came +on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any purpose, except to +restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. They'll buy +the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get good +and ready."</p> +<p>Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern +cowman can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?"</p> +<p>"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his +neck, all the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is +pouring into cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as +good as gold. Now, when all that investment is trying to withdraw +from cattle, they become a drag on the market. The Simple Simons +ain't all dead yet. Joel will buy cattle."</p> +<p>"He may, but I don't see how."</p> +<p>"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are +known in Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during +the drouth, has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your +behalf, is as good as money in the bank. Joel will come back with +cattle. My only fear is, he won't strain his credit."</p> +<p>"Credit! Who would credit us?"</p> +<p>"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your +showing at the same age. They have fought their way up and know who +to credit. Your range and ability to hold cattle are your best +assets. We must shape up the ranch, because Joel will come in with +cattle."</p> +<p>"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, +if Joel comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and +shout as loud as any of you."</p> +<p>"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's +saddle up horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I +want to get the lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the +cattle."</p> +<p>Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles +a day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the +lone horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman +halted until Joel overtook the travelers.</p> +<p>"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to +crowd three days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with +you, but I had a wire to pick you up."</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more +cattle," admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our +way now to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of +cattle in sight for you."</p> +<p>"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if +it takes any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy.</p> +<p>"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man +do the worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he +has everything all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, +but it's as clear as mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four +days."</p> +<p>The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after +sunrise, a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the +heat-waves rolled up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat +and dust crusted over the horses under saddle, without variation of +pace or course. Only three herds were met, feeling their way +through the mirages, or loitering along the waters. Traveling by +night was preferable, and timing the route into camps and marches, +the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was sighted in advance of the +schedule.</p> +<p>The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd +had been sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made +snug, a conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell +alighted.</p> +<p>"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, +amid general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on +enough cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to +receive them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll +receive to-morrow afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but +his outfit ought to reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on +this market, and have all the cattle in sight that I want. Several +deals are pending, awaiting the arrival of this boy. Come to town +to-night. I'll take Joel under my wing right now."</p> +<p>Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and +the vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and +following down the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail +wagon encamped. A number of men were about, including a foreman; +and at the request of Mr. Lovell to look over their cattle and +horses again the camp took on an air of activity. A small remuda +was corralled within ropes, running from choice to common horses, +all of which were looked over carefully by the trio, including the +wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, and led by the +foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to bunch the +herd.</p> +<p>Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig +and leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the +best herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and +I've kept the deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it +together. It runs full thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred +threes and the remainder twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds +for my beef ranch, because I double-winter all my steer cattle--it +takes two winters in the north to finish these Texas steers right. +Now, if you can handle the threes, the remnant of twos, and the +saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, and barrel. The +threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next fall, and you +can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two thousand of the +two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we look them +over, leave me to close the trade."</p> +<p>"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy +cattle without money," earnestly said Joel.</p> +<p>"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this +herd together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, +and a ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can +buy, with or without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like +the cattle and want them, leave it all to me."</p> +<p>"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested +Joel.</p> +<p>"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these +southern horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year +you'll be running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending +others on fall round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll +have them in the pink of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few +under sixty horses, as fifty head were detailed out here to +strengthen remudas that had to go to the Yellowstone. This foreman +will tell you that he topped out twenty-five of the choice horses +before the other trail bosses were allowed to pick. As the remuda +stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. A year hence one will be +as good as the other. You'll need the horses, and by buying down to +the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and free, it will help me +to close the trade, in our mutual interest."</p> +<p>The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by +quietly edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be +easily looked over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the +prospective buyers, the foreman had the cattle sufficiently +compact, and the old man and the boy drove back and forth through +the herd for fully an hour. They were thrifty, western Texas +steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the trail at Camp +Supply, and were all that could be desired in range cattle. The two +agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out from among +the cattle, the foreman was signaled up.</p> +<p>"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said +Mr. Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to +pick up another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very +near selling me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the +threes and remnant of twos, and if you price the horses right, we +might leave you afoot. If you see Dudley before I do, tell him I +looked over his cattle again."</p> +<p>"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the +vehicle.</p> +<p>Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of +wicked Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its +iniquity catering largely to the rabble.</p> +<p>"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you +look after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is +almost sure to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we +looked over his cattle again. I want him to hound me into buying +that herd."</p> +<p>Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to +all that was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in +the extreme. The two strolled about the streets during the evening +hours, and on returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard +was awaiting the old drover. There was no prelude to the matter at +issue, and after arranging with other sellers to receive the +following day, Mr. Lovell led the way to his room.</p> +<p>"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, +presenting Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the +Beaver this summer. I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and +gave him a good scolding for not stocking his range somewhere near +its carrying capacity. He's the buyer I had in view for your +three-year-olds. You offered me the herd, on time, and at +satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the twos, and Wells +Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you afoot. Say so, +and your herd is sold."</p> +<p>"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen +to know the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend +them a credit. This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with +boys."</p> +<p>"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily +replied Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making +the fight that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early +struggles, had some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it +might have been different with us to-day. And now when I don't need +no help--Dud, it don't cost much to help others. These boys have +proven themselves white, to yours and to my men and to yours and to +my cattle. Is there nothing we can do?"</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer +to you. Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and +remnants. You know the brothers--you know their resources."</p> +<p>"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot.</p> +<p>"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?"</p> +<p>"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. +Their only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last +winter, the most severe one in the history of the West, they lost +two per cent of their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good +a showing on any of our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to +throw on this boy's shoulders the <i>responsibility</i> of +<i>paying</i> for <i>any cattle he buys</i>. At his age it would be +wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you and I stand +behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right effort to +protect his credit."</p> +<p>"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll +suggest the means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet +of paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from +seller to buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will +be a vendor's lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its +second will be the appointment of a commission house, who will act +as agent, hold this contract, and receive the beeves when ready for +shipment to market. Its third clause will be your right, as +creditor in a sale of chattel, to place a man of your own selection +on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their pay and subject to their +orders. As your representative, the privilege is granted of making +a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the condition of the +cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet this, their +covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887.</p> +<p>"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. +Lovell, throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to +learn the value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, +it's an asset. I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I +want him to meet his first obligation on or before the day of +maturity. I can speak for the boy's willingness to make such a +contract. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard.</p> +<p>"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a +seven days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your +outfit home from Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all +your trouble. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a square +deal."</p> +<p>The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and +threw his arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The +cattle's yours! That old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all +around the big corral and spur him in the flank at every jump, +unless he comes to those terms. An iron-clad bill of sale is its +own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I want to give the long +yell."</p> +<p>Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel +arose to meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and +action.</p> +<p>"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose +twinkling eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to +draw up that bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for +themselves next fall. Get to bed, you rascals!"</p> +<p>"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river +and gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the +doorway.</p> +<p>"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the +morning. We'll close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred +of those Womack twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an +eye over Joel's cattle until the Beaver's reached."</p> +<p>During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in +contact with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the +migrations of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and +Ogalalla are unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, +reaching a climax on American soil, and not of record in any other +country or time. Joel let little escape him. Here men bought and +sold by the thousand head, in his day and generation, and he was a +part of that epoch.</p> +<p>The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest +were purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in +receiving a herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted +by two competent foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and +wherefore, was pointed out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, +so that the lesson sunk into Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the +first herd received was in the uniform average of each animal, when +ages, class, and build governed selection.</p> +<p>Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's +rest arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next +morning. When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness +with which the two outfits classified the cattle was only short of +marvelous. The threes were cut out, and each age counted. The +over-plus of the younger cattle were cut back, and the contingents +were tendered on delivery. The papers were ready, executed on the +ground, and the herds started, the smaller in the lead.</p> +<p>The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most +of his time with the little herd, which used only eight men, +counting Joel, who stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd +numbered a few over fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six +horses, a team and wagon, the total contract price of which was a +trifle under twenty-five thousand dollars. It looked like a serious +obligation for two boys to assume, but practical men had sanctioned +it, and it remained for the ability of Wells Brothers to meet +it.</p> +<p>On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the +new trail, which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, +a remark was dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack +Sargent. It resulted in the two riding out on the trail, only to +meet the purchased cattle, Joel on one point and Forrest on the +other, directing the herds to the tanks below. The action bespoke +its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the latter jerked his thumb +over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and pilot the wagon and +remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of cattle into the +new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. Lovell's +cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. See +how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over +that. Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit +to the railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers +are shaking out a right smart bit of sail these days."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>"THE WAGON"</h3> + +<p>The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the +appointed time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial +obligation, it would establish their standing, and to that end +every energy must be directed. They were extremely fortunate in the +advice and help of two young men bred to the occupation, and whose +every interest lay in making a success of the ranch.</p> +<p>The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything +was abandoned but their saddles--<i>burning the wagon</i>--while +Joe Manly, one of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even +the foreman, and on taking his departure the trail boss, in the +presence of all, said to his man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to +this ranch and make a useful hand. Drop old man Dudley a line +whenever you have a chance. It's quite a little ride to the +station, and we'll understand that no news is good news. And once +you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, better raise +the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the fall--during +the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next summer's plans +begin to unfold."</p> +<p>Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of +the South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had +watered during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving +its foreman on the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, +paving the way in detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle +during the coming winter. With numbers exceeding three thousand, +close herd and corralling at night was impossible, and the riding +of lines, with an extra camp, admitting of the widest freedom, was +decided on as the most feasible method. The new camp must be +located well above Hackberry Grove, and to provision it for man and +horse was one of the many details outlined in meeting the coming +winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having held cattle by +one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting some +other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was +simple and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault +from drifting cattle.</p> +<p>Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next +morning, he turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may +be the last time I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is +talk of the trail moving west. On account of fever, this State +threatens to quarantine against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail +will have to move over into Colorado or hunt a new route through +unorganized counties on the western line of Kansas. In event of +quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger range for Wells +Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in cattle, just +getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big future for +you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, toddling +around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't +matter if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank +account, be living on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as +you stick to cows, through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse +you."</p> +<p>The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and +Manly busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and +Sargent accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that +evening, and it proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for +that summer.</p> +<p>The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was +narrowed to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle +watering at the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, +including all horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty +head, was moved up to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The +wintered horses furnished ample saddle mounts for the present, +there being little to do, as the water held the new cattle and no +herding was required. The heat of summer was over, the water held +in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch settled down in pastoral +security.</p> +<p>Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of +forage must be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to +the man was the lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery +was available on the railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned +with a new mowing machine, and the matter of providing abundant +forage was easily met. Sufficient hay, from a few bends of the +creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the home ranch, and a +week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site of the new +line-camp equipped with winter forage.</p> +<p>While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced +on Wells Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to +any pastoral occupation, and hence <i>the wagon</i> becomes a +cowman's home and castle. From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, +welcomes the wayfarer, and exchanges the chronicle of the range. +The wagon, which had been acquired with the new herd and used on +the above occasion, was well equipped with canvas cover, water +barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The latter was +fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a kitchen. +When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus +becomes home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the +other. Saddle horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the +safety of a camp-fire and the protection of their masters, and +therefore a closer bond exists between the men of the open and +their mounts than under more refined surroundings.</p> +<p>Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down +the Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of +running water. It was followed by early frosts, lifting the +dead-line and ushering in Indian summer. With forage secure, +attention was turned to the cattle. The purchase of a mowing +machine had exhausted the funds derived from the sale of peltry, +and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide the munitions +for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly provisioned for a +week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the quartette +moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown +into a compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the +spiritless cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid +as fawns, shied from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in +comforting concern, the beeves waddled about from carrying their +own flesh, while the patriarchs of the herd bellowed in sullen +defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut out from the ---- Y +brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first shipment of +cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets.</p> +<p>Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the +railroad. Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the +remuda, the two others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn +in standing guard at night. Water was plentiful, cars were in +waiting, and on reaching the railroad, the cattle were corralled in +the shipping pens.</p> +<p>Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The +beeves were consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as +factor in marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently +passed from the possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells +Brothers. The two cars of cattle found a ready sale, the weights +revealing a surprise, attracting the attention of packers and +salesmen to the quality of beef from the Beaver valley.</p> +<p>"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a +salesman to a packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the +weighing scale. "You and I needn't worry about the question of +range--the buffalo knew. Catch the weights of these cattle and +compare it with range beef from the sedge-grass and mountain +country. Tallow tells its own story--the buffalo knew the best +range."</p> +<p>An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a +mutual basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, +detained Joel and Manly in his private office for an hour.</p> +<p>"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to +ship," said the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The +Solomon River country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is +the first shipment from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your +consignment the fattest range beeves on to-day's market. And these +weights confirm the statement. I don't understand it. What kind of +a country have you out there?"</p> +<p>Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered +the latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by +the thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and +rolls away."</p> +<p>It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. +"The grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native +grasses?"</p> +<p>"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of +course, here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a +little blue-stem, enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. +The cattle won't touch it."</p> +<p>The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, +of which the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The +details were gone over carefully, the outlook for next year's +shipments reviewed, and on taking their leave, the old man said to +his guests:--</p> +<p>"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters +from both Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over +the situation, with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and +satisfactory. Next year's shipments will take care of the contract. +Keep in touch with us, and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship +your cattle in finished condition, and they'll make a market for +themselves. We'll expect you early next summer."</p> +<p>"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your +single-wintered beeves," said the old man, from his practical +knowledge in maturing beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has +your account all ready."</p> +<p>Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a +moment. The beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and +except for current expenses, the funds were left on deposit with +the commission house, as there were no banks near home; the account +was subject to draft, and accepting a small advance in currency, +the boys departed. A brief hour's shopping was indulged in, the +principal purchases being two long-range rifles, cartridges and +poison in abundance, when they hastened to the depot and caught a +west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, and at evening +the next day the two rode into headquarters on the Beaver.</p> +<p>Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the +first shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an +air of independence indicated the turn in the swing of the +pendulum. Practical men, in every avenue of the occupation, had +lent their indorsement to the venture of the brothers, the mettle +of the pasture had been tested in the markets, and the future, with +reasonable vigilance, rested on sure foundations.</p> +<p>The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think +Uncle Dud would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at +supper. "There's no occasion for my staying here this winter. +Besides, I'm a tender plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of +thunder. Wouldn't I like to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, +'Come home, my little white chicken, come home!'"</p> +<p>"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!"</p> +<p>"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now +listen to the foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every +hoof up to date. Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building +of a new dug-out and stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight +in plenty of corn. After that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's +our own fault. No excuse will pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's +a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, make yourself a useful guest +for the winter."</p> +<p>A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their +mothers were brought down to the home corral and branded in a +single day. The Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were +exempt, the Lazy H ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. +Only cripple, fagged, and stray cattle were branded, the latter +numbering less than a hundred head, and were run into the Hospital +brand, while the remainder bore the--Y of the ranch. The work was +completed within a week, Dell making a hand which proved his nerve, +either in the saddle or branding pen.</p> +<p>The first week in October was devoted to building the new +dug-out and stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and +tool on the ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as +well as the remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as +if it were a frolic. The site had been decided on during the +haying, and on reaching the scene, the tent was set up, and the +building of a shelter for man and horse was begun.</p> +<p>The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and +the remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt +break or low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot +cellar walls on three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod +walls and containing the door. The sod was broken by a team and +plough, cut into lengths like brick, and the outside walls raised +to the desired height. For roofing, a heavy ridge-pole was cut the +length of the room, resting on stout upright posts. Lighter poles +were split and laid compactly, like rafters, sheeted with hay, and +covered with loose dirt to the depth of a foot. The floor was +earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented by a door in the +south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable shelter. A roomy +stable was built on the same principle and from the same +material.</p> +<p>The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, +when the quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway +house at Land's End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the +new improvements. "What are you going to call the new tepee?"</p> +<p>"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell +having accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and +let the latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you +must bring your knitting and come over."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>AN OPEN WINTER</h3> + +<p>An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late +fall frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light +rains in September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on +the sunny slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus +assuring abundant forage to the cattle.</p> +<p>Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any +cold, while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the +plains. After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, +the quartette paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new +dug-out, while the other two were perfectly content with the old +shack at headquarters. A healthy spirit of rivalry sprang up, +extending from a division of the horses down to a fair assignment +of the blankets.</p> +<p>Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter +aroused a dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said +Sargent, "up on the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail +outfit were detailed until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the +cattle, and of course the cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught +us in camp, and that poor darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to +say to the foreman, shivering over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. +Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful +uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no place fo' a po' ol' +niggah.'"</p> +<p>Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round +trips being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies +for the winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of +which were four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of +corned beef fell a pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was +nothing new in pickling the meat, and with the exception of felling +the beeves, the incident passed as part of the day's work. Dell +claimed the privilege of making the shots, which Sargent granted, +but exercised sufficient caution to corral the beeves. Both fell in +their tracks, and the novice gained confidence in his skill in the +use of a rifle.</p> +<p>The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of +lines. That date found all the new cattle drifted above +headquarters, and as it was some ten miles to the upper line-camp, +an extremely liberal range was allowed the herd. Eight of the best +wintered horses were stabled, and at first the line was maintained +on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer line was agreed upon, +five miles to the south; but until the season forced the cattle to +the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept under patrol. The +outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an immense +half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the +winter range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, +drifting before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back +or trailed down.</p> +<p>The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. +Many of the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, +not even coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several +times the horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an +advantage, the cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft +snow even failed to bring the cattle into the valley.</p> +<p>Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. +The through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter +fat and furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and +instinctively leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the +first storm. Between the morning and evening patrol of a perfect +day, the herd, of its own accord, drifted into the valley, the +leaders rioting in a wild frolic. Their appearance hastened the +patrol of the inner line by an hour, every nook and shelter, +including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome cattle. The +calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the older +cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their foreheads +in clay and soft dirt.</p> +<p>"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met.</p> +<p>"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came +the reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, +the herd say so."</p> +<p>"What can we do?"</p> +<p>"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless +driven out by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming +storm also teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the +blue-stem to-night, or hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank."</p> +<p>A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was +agreed upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out +early, and keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the +line," Sargent called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will +leave The Wagon at daybreak."</p> +<p>The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an +angry horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from +the north. On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm +on an angle, edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting +defiance and warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. +The light advanced slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, +obscuring the valley, and not until the slope to the south was +reached was the situation known.</p> +<p>No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving +the line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering +trace where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both +he and Dell dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach +and departure, the range-bred man was able to give a perfect +summary of the situation.</p> +<p>"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," +remarked Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; +the storm must have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. +They struck the creek in the flats and were driven out of the +valley. The trail's not over two hours old. Ride the line until you +meet the other boys, and I'll trail down these cattle. The sand +dunes ought to catch them."</p> +<p>Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was +met. Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a +contingent of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting +the stragglers back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers +turned to the assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, +and finally bearing off for the sand hills. Several times the sun +threatened to break through, lighting the valley, but without +revealing any stir among the cattle in the shelter of the creek. In +the short time since leaving their stables, the horses under saddle +had whitened from the action of the frost on their sweaty coats, +unheeded by their riders. There was no checking of mounts until the +range of dunes was reached, when from the summit of a sand hill the +stragglers were located in care of Sargent, and on the homeward +drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered from the cold +that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, and were +overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain.</p> +<p>The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of +the brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the +sun burst forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in +parting. "A few hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got +the upper hand of this storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the +wind lulls, we'll ride the inner line to-night and bed every hoof +in the shelter of the creek. Pick up Manly, and we'll ride the +valley line about the middle of the afternoon."</p> +<p>Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under +patrol from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to +Dell, leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and +before noon all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty +miles had been covered that morning, in riding the line and +recovering the lost, and at the agreed time, the relay horses were +under saddle for the afternoon task. The sun had held sway, the +wind had fallen, and as they followed up the valley, they +encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to every quarter +of the compass. They were not molested on the outward ride, but on +the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to the +sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. +A crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found +the cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first +bottoms of the creek.</p> +<p>The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own +accord, the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern +divide. The line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for +observing the Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to +secure a venison. The absence of snow, during the storm, had held +the antelope tributary to the Beaver, and locating game was an easy +matter. To provide the roast, the spirit of rivalry was accented +anew, and each camp fervently hoped for its own success.</p> +<p>A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a +running shot at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a +morning siesta near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only +be found in the sand hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent +had flattered Dell into believing that his aim was equal to the +occasion. The broken nature of the dune country admitted of +stealthy approach, and its nearness to the upper camp recommended +it as an inviting hunting ground. The disappointment of the first +effort, due to moderated weather, was in finding the quarry far +afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the protection of the sand +hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without shelter to screen +a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and selecting a +quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins lengthened +by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking +right and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a +stealthy approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed +ravenously, sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect +screen for stalking.</p> +<p>After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was +reached, when the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass +and allowed the horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent +indicated a sentinel buck, presenting the best shot; and using his +elbow for a rest, the rifle was laid in the hollow of Dell's +upraised hand and drawn firmly to his shoulder, and a prompt report +followed. The shot went wild, throwing up a flash of dust before +the band, which instantly whirled. The horses merely threw up their +heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, which ran up +within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the excitement of the +moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had arisen to his +knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another cartridge into +the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as the band +excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger in +vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a +few feet of the muzzle of the rifle!</p> +<p>The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, +laughing until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's +chagrin left him standing like a simpleton.</p> +<p>"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too +easy on the trigger."</p> +<p>"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered +Sargent, not daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next +spring, those scars in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither +horse was killed. Honest, I'll never breathe it! Not for +worlds!"</p> +<p>Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his +horse, mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching +their saddles, the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a +pleasant dream, the boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck +ague?" he earnestly inquired.</p> +<p>"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his +horse. "Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or +discharges one into the ground at his feet, he ought to take +something for his nerves. It's not fatal, and I have hopes of your +recovery."</p> +<p>The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a +peal of laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed +to appreciate the humor of the situation.</p> +<p>"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, +"if we have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I +can grace it with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of +venison, it will fit the occasion just as well."</p> +<p>The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual +amount of banter and repartee was exchanged.</p> +<p>"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked +Sargent scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much +confidence in your skill as hunters."</p> +<p>"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly.</p> +<p>"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We +located a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, +I'll go out in the morning and bring in a fat yearling."</p> +<p>"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly +with refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow +and come down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're +going to have quite a spread."</p> +<p>Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with +polished contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived +on beans at The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware +wasn't as good as their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come +on!"</p> +<p>Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before +noon, a young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations +were made for an extensive dinner. The practical range man is +usually a competent cook, and from the stores of the winter camp a +number of extra dishes were planned. In the way of a roast, on the +plains, a saddle of venison was the possible extreme, and the +occupants of the line-camp possessed a ruddy health which promised +appetites to grace the occasion.</p> +<p>Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed +the dead weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the +creek from pool to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with +droning bees and flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning +patrol alone, meeting Joel at the halfway point, when the two +dismounted, whiling away several hours in considering future plans +of the ranch.</p> +<p>It was high noon when the two returned to their respective +quarters. Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the +venison, and on his crony's return, the two sat down to their +Christmas dinner. What the repast lacked in linen and garnishment, +it made up in stability, graced by a cheerfulness and contentment +which made its partakers at peace with the world. Sargent was +almost as resourceful in travel and story as Quince Forrest, and +never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace any occasion.</p> +<p>Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, +was enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to +Sargent, "you promised to tell a story at dinner to-day."</p> +<p>"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into +the ground at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if +I have to laugh; you looked like a simpleton."</p> +<p>"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell.</p> +<p>"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, +but in a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to +be your father, but he looked just as witless as you did."</p> +<p>"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy.</p> +<p>"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in +certain sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a +week's shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, +known as one of the most fearless officers in the state. In size he +simply towered above the rest of us.</p> +<p>"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking +and coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting +grounds, and the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg +and every jug on the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and +were carried in the wagon.</p> +<p>"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a +quail pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the +afternoon, he killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very +plentiful, and instead of picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such +a number was much quicker. In the hurry and bustle of making the +camp snug for the night, every one was busy, the sheriff in +particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On finishing the task, he +asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse wrangler reached +into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into the vessel +containing the dressed birds.</p> +<p>"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and +drain his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: +'Ignacio, I smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if +the lantern isn't leaking.'</p> +<p>"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere.</p> +<p>"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway +through the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. +See if the lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.'</p> +<p>"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in +the flour.'</p> +<p>"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: +'Ignacio, I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a +lantern without oil puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. +Drop your work and see what the trouble is. There's a leak +somewhere.'</p> +<p>"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the +wagon wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, +shook it, and lifted it above his head in search of a possible +crack. The empty jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually +sifted through his mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big +sheriff, just then finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the +saints to witness, he gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail +in the kerosene!'</p> +<p>"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's +face is only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. +"I've been fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a +Texas sheriff, and again, when you shot a hole in the ground with +your eye on an antelope. Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I +conjure up the scene of a Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, +holding a jug, and a six-footer in the background, smelling the +fingers of one hand and then the other."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>AN INDIAN SCARE</h3> + +<p>The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered +wide, ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. +The latter was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson +to the brothers, and readily explained by the older and more +practical men. For instance, a north or the dreaded east wind +brought the herd into the valley, where it remained until the +weather moderated, and then drifted out of its own free will. When +a balmy south wind blew, the cattle grazed against it, and when it +came from a western quarter, they turned their backs and the +gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under settled weather, +even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it was an easy +matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the coming day.</p> +<p>The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, +but more as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The +occasional reports of Manly to his employer were flattering in the +extreme. Any risk involved in the existing contract hinged on the +present winter, and since it was all that could be desired, every +fine day added to the advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their +venture had been greeted with fair winds, and with not a cloud in +the visible sky. Manly was even recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in +February.</p> +<p>Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a +fortnight earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the +willows were bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening +slopes rolled away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp +was abandoned, the cattle were scattered over the entire valley, +and the instincts to garden were given free rein. The building of +two additional tanks, one below the old trail crossing and the +other near the new camp above, occupied a month's time to good +advantage. It enlarged the range beyond present needs; but the +brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, and theirs was +strictly a policy of expansion.</p> +<p>An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing +errand, was usually rewarded with important news. During the winter +just passed, Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the +trail was barred from that state. Early in May information reached +the ranch that the market interests of Dodge City had moved over +the line into Colorado, and had established a town on the railroad, +to be known as Trail City. A feasible route lay open to the south, +across No-Man's-Land, into the Texas Panhandle, while scouting +parties were out with the intent of locating a new trail to +Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River nearly due westward +from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one hundred miles +distant.</p> +<p>"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You +must have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river +and a railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the +east to the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you +can buy cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until +frost, and cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may +prove an advantage after all."</p> +<p>The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The +beaver ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill +race, and the question of water for the summer was answered. The +cattle early showed the benefits of the favorable winter, and by +June the brands were readable at a glance. From time to time +reports from the outside world reached the brothers, and among +other friendly letters received was an occasional inquiry from the +commission firm, the factors named under the existing contract. The +house kept in touch with the range, was fully aware of the open +winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in maturing cattle +for early shipment.</p> +<p>The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent +out a month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised +of a promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the +commission house, and during the first week in July he arrived at +headquarters. He was a practical man, with little concern for +comfort, as long as there were cattle to look over. Joel took him +in tow, mounted him on the pick of saddle horses, and the two +leisurely rode the range.</p> +<p>"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride.</p> +<p>"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. +Put in all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that +range wide, for we rode around every outside bunch. He <i>can</i> +talk, because he admitted we have good horses."</p> +<p>Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At +parting the following morning, in summing up the outlook, the +solicitor surprised the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he +quietly. "You must ship early. Your double-wintered beeves will +reach their prime this month. You may ship them any day after the +25th. Your single-wintered ones can follow in three weeks. The firm +may be able to advise you when to ship. It's only a fourteen-hour +run to the yards, and if you work a beef-shipping outfit that's up +to date, you can pick your day to reach the market. Get your outfit +together, keep in touch with the house by wire, and market your +beef in advance of the glut from the Platte country."</p> +<p>The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," +said Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us +two men during the beef-shipping season."</p> +<p>"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in +hand.</p> +<p>"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?"</p> +<p>"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. +There may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, +fully anticipating the query.</p> +<p>"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand.</p> +<p>The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled +glance, but Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," +said the latter. "The chances are that he's forgotten more about +cattle than some of these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he +reads the sign without much effort. His survey of this range and +the outlook are worth listening to. Better look up an outfit of +men."</p> +<p>"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm +gone to the Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the +horses."</p> +<p>The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located +on the range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters +at once. They had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, +and a single day would be required to gather and corral the ranch +remuda. It numbered, complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and +the wisdom of buying the majority a year in advance of their needs +reflected the foresight of a veteran cowman. Many of them were +wild, impossible of approach, the call of the plain and the free +life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with every heart-beat, and +several days would be required to bring them under docile +subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep.</p> +<p>The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied +forth, mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among +the clouds. During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed +in the sand hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle +horses was watering. The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the +range, fully fifteen miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle +stock must be brought in, the day's work required riding a wide +circle. Skirting the sand dunes, by early noon all the horses were +in hand, save the band of thirty. There was no occasion for all +hands to assist in bringing in the absent ones, and a consultation +resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the task, while Sargent +returned home with the horses already gathered.</p> +<p>The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours +after parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The +brothers knew every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid +condition, they started homeward, driving the loose mounts before +them. The most direct course to headquarters was taken, which would +carry the cavalcade past the springs and the upper winter quarters. +The latter was situated in the brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt +turns of the creek, until its near approach, shutting out a western +view of the deserted dug-out. The cavalcade was drifting home at a +gentle trot, but on approaching The Wagon, a band of ponies was +sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. The boys veered their +horses, taking to the western divide, and on gaining it, saw below +them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, around the +springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos.</p> +<p>Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their +surprise, all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the +Indians came tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them +running for their ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked +leader signaled to the brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment +with the boys, who conversed in whispers, never halting on their +course, and when the Indians reached their ponies, every brave +dashed up to the encampment. A short parley followed, during which +signaling was maintained by the old Indian, evidently a chief; but +the boys kept edging away, and the old brave sprang on a pony and +started in pursuit, followed by a number of his band.</p> +<p>The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their +mounts, shook out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started +the loose horses in a mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to +headquarters, and their mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy +saddles and the day's work, were none too fresh, while the Indians +rode bareback and were not encumbered by an ounce of extra +clothing.</p> +<p>The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead +of taking to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued +and pursuers in plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so +the loose horses were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping +clear of the whizzing ropes. But after the first wild dash, the +remuda began to scatter, and the Indians gained on the cavalcade, +coming fairly abreast and not over four hundred yards distant.</p> +<p>"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off +from headquarters!"</p> +<p>"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. +"Don't let these loose horses turn into the valley."</p> +<p>The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The +meanderings of the latter were crossed and recrossed without +halting, while the watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by +dry washes and coulees, thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. +The race wore on with varying advantage, and when near halfway to +headquarters, the Indians turned up the slope as if to verify +Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a half-dozen of the loose horses +cut off from the band and turned down the slope in plain sight of +the pursuers.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus0310-1.jpg"></a> +<img src="images/illus0310-1.jpg" width="700" height="465" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY</p> +</div> + +<p>"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. +"Climbing that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where +we have the best of it."</p> +<p>The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept +past the abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level +stretch on the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the +pursuers, baffled in cutting them off, turned again into the +valley.</p> +<p>"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward +glance.</p> +<p>"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, +and ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice +of horses would not appease their pursuers.</p> +<p>The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the +brothers dipped from sight of the Indians. The act confused the +latter, who scaled the divide, only to find the objects of their +chase a full half-mile in the lead, but calling on the last reserve +in their fagged horses. The pursuers gradually closed the +intervening gap; but with the advantage of knowing every foot of +the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried them into the +valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a straight +stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the boys +dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses.</p> +<p>"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. +"Indians have been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, +Jack!"</p> +<p>Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as +Sargent left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, +and showed splendid action in reaching the dug-out.</p> +<p>Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating +rifle, while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to +unearth the story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre +revealed the Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and +parleying among themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to +be unarmed, and on Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, +the old brave, simply held up his hand.</p> +<p>"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and +signaled in the leader.</p> +<p>The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his +followers behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his +wrinkled visage. He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty +breech-clout a greasy, grimy letter, and tendered it to +Sargent.</p> +<p>The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter.</p> +<p>"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine +Ridge Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian +Territory. The agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a +peaceful Indian, and has his permission to leave the reservation. +He hopes that nothing but kindness will be shown the old chief in +his travels, and bespeaks the confidence of any white settlers that +he may meet on the way. You boys must have been scared out of your +wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show you this letter."</p> +<p>Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook +hands with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone +Wolf, and on returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor +was burdened with pickled beef and such other staples as the +cow-camp afforded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>HARVEST ON THE RANGE</h3> + +<p>Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone +four days. The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, +but constant inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose +holdings consisted of stock cattle. Three men were secured, their +services not being urgently required on the home ranch until the +fall branding, leaving only a cook and horse wrangler to be +secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a homesteader and his boy, +anxious for work, and the two were engaged.</p> +<p>"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. +"It gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first +shipment with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little +green at first, but they're willing, and that masters any task. +We'll have to be patient with them--we were all beginners once. Any +man who ever wrestled with a homestead ought to be able to +cook."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man +like settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. +In the West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability +to use baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide."</p> +<p>The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. +Within a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with +unerring nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to +another. The double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their +former range; but in order to quicken the work, any beeves of that +class found below were drifted above headquarters. It was a +distinct advantage to leave the herd undisturbed, and with the +first shipment drifted to one end of the range, a small round-up or +two would catch all marketable beeves.</p> +<p>The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and +wrangler were initiated into their respective duties at once. The +wagon was equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and +an ample mount allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted +over the saddle stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task +daunted their numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as +the work was fully understood, the concerted efforts of all +relieved him of any concern, except in arranging the details. The +ranch had fallen heir to a complete camp kit, with the new wagon, +and with a single day's preparations, the shipping outfit stood +ready to move on an hour's notice.</p> +<p>It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that +Wells Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. +Sargent had figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to +execute a shipment, and was rather impatient to try out the outfit +in actual field work.</p> +<p>"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a +little swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct +the cook and wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real +thing."</p> +<p>Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning +to gather beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp."</p> +<p>"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced +Sargent. "Roll your blankets in the morning, boys."</p> +<p>A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys +were impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your +double-wintered beeves on Saturday's market."</p> +<p>"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The +wagon and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the +messenger order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be +on Saturday's market."</p> +<p>Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier +returning to the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown +out from the old winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle +rendered them lazy, half the horsemen halted until the other +sighted the grove above. As early as advisable, the gradual circle +was begun, turning the cattle into the valley, concentrating, and +by slowly edging in, the first round-up of the day was thrown +together, numbering, range run, fully six hundred head. Two men +were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell volunteered to +watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other three to cut +out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. A short +hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and +when cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was +reflected in every beef.</p> +<p>The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed +nearly double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of +the beeves was made, which overran in numbers the necessary +shipment. They were extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car +was the limit, and it became necessary to trim or cull back to the +desired number. Sargent and Joel passed on every rejected beef, +uniform weight being desirable, until the shipment stood +acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish.</p> +<p>The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without +delay. Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, +and a grazing pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good +season. The day's work consisted in merely pointing and drifting +the cattle forward, requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help +to initiate the cook and wrangler in their field duties. Joel had +been a close observer of the apparent ease with which a cook +discharged his duty, frequently halting his wagon on a moment's +notice, and easily preparing a meal for an outfit of trail men +within an hour. The main secret lay in the foresight, in keeping +his work in advance, and Joel lent every assistance in coaching his +cook to meet the emergency of any demand.</p> +<p>Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of +horses had seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and +attention was called to observing each individual horse and the +remuda as a whole. For instance, in summer, a horse grazes against +the breeze, and if the remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, +the wind holding from the same quarter during the night, a +practical wrangler would know where to find his horses at dawn. The +quarter of the breeze was therefore always noted, any variation +after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the wind, turning the +course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were leaders +among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy +had no fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his +leave-taking was gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling +alone in the open.</p> +<p>"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to +the father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer +ends, he'll know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's +nothing like knowing your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; +know their spirit, know them in health, lame and wounded. If a +horse neighs at night, know why; if one's missing in the morning, +name him like you would an absent boy at school."</p> +<p>The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. +The beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep +in night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three +guards stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd +off its bed at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through +the noon hours.</p> +<p>An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening +before loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into +the station in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get +the shipping details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, +having been ordered on from Trail City.</p> +<p>"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for +a special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a +local freight from here, but I showed him there were other train +shipments to follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another +one to my old man done the work. Those old boys know how to pull +the strings. A special train has been ordered, and you can name +your own hour for leaving in the morning. I have a man with me; +send us in horses and we'll help you corral your beeves."</p> +<p>Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two +horses were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra +men joined the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. +An early hour was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in +promptly, and the first shipment of the year was cut into car lots +and loaded out during a morning hour.</p> +<p>Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was +noticeable around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting +for a passenger schedule, there was billing to be done and +contracts to execute, telegrams of notification to be sent the +commission firm, and general instructions to the beef outfit. Joel +and Sargent were to accompany the shipment, and on starting, while +the engineer and conductor were comparing their running orders, +Sargent called out from the rear of the caboose:--</p> +<p>"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. +"Here's two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take +some candy home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you +can have my little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you +can have all my other playthings."</p> +<p>The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned +homeward. Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and +the remainder of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. +Manly had been away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and +Dell rode the range, pending the return of the absent. Under ideal +range conditions, the cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, +having rounded into form beyond belief.</p> +<p>"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the +range; "they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with +a hardiness that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they +repay every debt. Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will +almost wipe the slate. Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, +but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent on making it that my old man simply +gave in. And now you're going to make a fortune out of these Lazy +H's. No wonder us fool Texans love a cow."</p> +<p>The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only +topped the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but +topped it in price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two +dollars a head!"</p> +<p>Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said +Joel, "the commission firm will order the trains and send us a +practical shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to +rush our shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays +to be on time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these +railroad passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. +If any one has to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and +leave the cattle to follow."</p> +<p>The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome +asset. The first consignment from the ranch gave the men a +field-trial, and now that the actual shipping season was at hand, +an allotment of horses was made. The numbers of the remuda admitted +of mounting every man to the limit, and with their first shipment a +success, the men rested impatiently awaiting orders.</p> +<p>The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' +later date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for +fulfillment. The outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the +evening before, and by noon two round-ups had yielded twenty +car-loads of straight Lazy H beeves. When trimmed to their required +numbers, twenty-two to the car, they reflected credit to breeder +and present owner.</p> +<p>In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was +no apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at +evening and morning, brought the herd within summons of the +shipping yards on time. That the beeves might be favored, they were +held outside for the night, three miles from the corral, but an +early sun found them safely inside the shipping pens. Two hours +later, the full train was en route to market, in care of a +practical shipper.</p> +<p>On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to +the commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour +after the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the +shipment, was received from Mr. Stoddard.</p> +<p>"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the +last cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two +herds on the market this year, one at Trail City and the other at +Ogalalla, and he may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You +have a pass; you can catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake +the cattle train in time to see the beeves unloaded."</p> +<p>"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling +through his pockets for the forgotten pass.</p> +<p>"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, +single ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. +Same range, same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly +safe in buying them unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought +last year, with the advantage of a better season on the trail. All +you need to do is to agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are +as honest as gold and twice as good."</p> +<p>"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with +decision. "If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train +from the Lazy H's. I'll be back in a day or two."</p> +<p>Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. +At dusk he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market +yards on schedule time. The shipper's duty ceased with the +unloading of the cattle, which was easily completed before +midnight, when he and his employer separated. The market would not +open until a late morning hour, affording ample time to rest and +refresh the beeves, and to look up acquaintances in the office.</p> +<p>Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first +stir of the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even +arrived, he was hanging around the office of the commission firm. +The expected shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm +much earlier than usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. +Mr. Stoddard was summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the +hearty greeting between the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual +occupation.</p> +<p>The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an +interested party left the commission office and sauntered forth to +watch the beeves cross the scale. It was the parting look of +breeder, owner, and factor, and when the average weight was +announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to the others.</p> +<p>"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you +last summer?"</p> +<p>"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel.</p> +<p>"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the +boys who matured them. I must be an old fogy."</p> +<p>"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission +house. "Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To +be sure, as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man +can raise a frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers +aren't afraid of a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the +lion's share falls to them."</p> +<p>"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially +quoted the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly +to your northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse +your Uncle Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree."</p> +<p>"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old +factor.</p> +<p>"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story +that is told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. +He's my customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day."</p> +<p>The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each +beef was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the +letter of the bond, and each party to the contract respected his +obligation.</p> +<p>After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard +and Joel wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to +find all accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. +The second shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, +and when the canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned +to the senior member of the firm.</p> +<p>"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same +price and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This +quarantine raises havoc with delivery."</p> +<p>"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked +the senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist +on a rigid enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle +cattle, and any north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of +health. If that's all that stands in the way of a trade, our firm +will use its good offices."</p> +<p>"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take +your herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on +the Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. +This firm is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," +he concluded, turning to the member present.</p> +<p>"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any +confidence reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the +quarantine authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he +requested, turning to a map and indicating the shipping +station.</p> +<p>Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. +The Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the +north, with unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado.</p> +<p>"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the +only cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the +bill of health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry +in your other shipments, and the railroad can use its +influence--it'll want cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be +restocked."</p> +<p>There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was +sent to Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the +beef outfit, to hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home +that night, and the next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from +the Beaver, with a perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It +was early harvest on the cattle ranges, and those who were favored +with marketable beef were eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall +shipments.</p> +<p>The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report +provoked argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men +lounged around the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit.</p> +<p>"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the +lads from the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle +without seeing them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not +this one of old man Vivian's boys! Oh, no!"</p> +<p>"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. +"Your view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your +tickets cost somewhere between four and six bits."</p> +<p>Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, +gazed at the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how +your folks bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow +is a cow, a steer is a steer, according to his age, and so on down +to the end of the alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and +there's no occasion for seeing them. If you are laboring under the +idea that my old man would use any deception to sell a herd, you +have another guess coming. He'd rather lose his right hand than to +misrepresent the color of a cow. He's as jealous of his cattle as a +miller is of his flour. These boys are his customers, last fall, +this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he wanted them, +Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen."</p> +<p>The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on +schedule time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the +side track, and an engine and crew could be summoned on a few +hours' notice. If corralled the night before, passing trains were +liable to excite the beeves, and thereafter it became the usual +custom to hold outside and safely distant.</p> +<p>The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping +operations. Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at +sunrise on the morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started +homeward.</p> +<p>"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," +said Joel to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch +at headquarters. Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make +camp at the lower tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of +Lazy H's. The rest of the outfit will follow, once these cattle are +loaded out. You might have a late supper awaiting us--about ten +o'clock to-night."</p> +<p>The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut +into car lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the +loading began. A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the +dusty horsemen mounted and clattered into the straggling +hamlet.</p> +<p>The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the +first running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful +lunch. The horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again +took up their former road gait. An evening halt was made on the +Prairie Dog, where an hour's grazing was again allowed, the time +being wholly devoted to looking into the future.</p> +<p>"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining +his plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this +creek, in case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered +nook, cache a little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the +cattle break the line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning +and check them. It beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a +twenty-mile start. We could lash our blankets on a pack horse and +ride it night or day."</p> +<p>"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could +almost eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is +surely a meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef +shipping's on in full blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting +on the Beaver."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>LIVING IN THE SADDLE</h3> + +<p>The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning +horsemen safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for +the task of the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment +would come from the flotsam of the year before, many of which were +heavy beeves, intended for army delivery, but had fallen footsore +on the long, drouthy march. The past winter had favored the lame +and halt, and after five months of summer, the bulk of them had +matured into finished beef.</p> +<p>By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers +were enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were +kept, but had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have +rendered a statement from memory of returns on the double and +single wintered, as well as on the purchased cattle. Sale +statements were furnished by the commission house, and by filing +these, an account of the year's shipments, each brand separate, +could be made up at the end of the season.</p> +<p>The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, +was now happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as +their portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose +the class of cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The +range had proven itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter +would carry only sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings +of cattle.</p> +<p>"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at +breakfast, "I'd stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter +every hoof. Look over those sale statements and you'll see what two +winters mean. That first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, +and yet they netted seven dollars a head less than those rag-tag, +double-wintered ones. There's a waste that must be saved +hereafter."</p> +<p>"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof +that has the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three +two-year-old steers to take his place. It may take another year or +two to shape up our cattle, but after that, every hoof must be +double-wintered."</p> +<p>An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the +first round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves +without any excitement was fully understood, and to gather a +shipment without disturbing those remaining was a task that +required patience and intelligence. Men on the outside circle +merely turned the cattle on the extremes of the range; they were +followed by inner horsemen, and the drag-net closed at a grazing +pace, until the round-up halted on a few acres.</p> +<p>The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last +course in the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a +mixed round-up. On the present work, those horses which had proven +apt were held in reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle +was quieting down, the remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to +four cutting horses. The average cow can dodge and turn quicker +than the ordinary horse, and only a few of the latter ever combine +action and intelligence to outwit the former. Cunning and +ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a perfect rein, +coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of range +mounts--the cutting horse.</p> +<p>Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent +took him in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered +the herd. "Now, I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you +cut them out. All you need to do is to rein that horse down on your +beef, and he'll take him out of the herd. Of course you'll help the +horse some little; but if you let too many back, I'll call our +wrangler and try him out. That horse knows the work just as well as +you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over your beef."</p> +<p>The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, +and only a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. +Dell made a record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an +hour, and only letting one reënter the herd. The latter was a +pony-built beef, and after sullenly leaving the herd, with the +agility of a cat, he whirled right and left on the space of a +blanket, and beat the horse back into the round-up. Sargent lent a +hand on the second trial, and when the beef saw that resistance was +useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away to join those +selected for shipment.</p> +<p>"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you +out. Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit +horse could turn him. And he showed you."</p> +<p>"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the +herd, quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef +reaches the edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop +out like door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as +rigid as ropes, and he touches the ground as if he was walking on +eggs. Look at him now; goes poking along as if he was half +asleep."</p> +<p>"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you +can strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your +steer, that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king +pin--that's royalty."</p> +<p>A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of +beeves. They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require +reclassing before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish +were fully up to standard, but the manner in which they were +acquired left them uneven, their ages varying from four to seven +years.</p> +<p>"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves +had been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. +Instead of five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this +year's shipment from crumbs will net you double that amount. The +first gathering of beef will square the account with every thirsty +cow you watered last summer."</p> +<p>An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The +shipment must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within +half a mile of the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and +Sargent. The contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and +in order to have them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be +cut into a class by themselves, leaving the remainder neat and +uniform. A careful hour's work resulted in seven car-loads of extra +heavy beeves, which were corralled separately and in advance of the +others, completing a long day in the saddle.</p> +<p>Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A +permit from the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due +to the influence of the commission house and others, admitting the +through herd, then en route from Ogalalla. The grant required a +messenger to meet the herd without delay, and Dell volunteered his +services as courier. Darkness fell before supper was over and the +messenger ready.</p> +<p>"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his +brother, "and those through cattle can come in the day we gather +our last train. We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't +reached the Republican, push ahead until you meet it."</p> +<p>A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the +herd to follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite +our middle tank?"</p> +<p>"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count +and receive them."</p> +<p>Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely +home to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon +to-morrow. If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll +drop down on you in a day and a half."</p> +<p>The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and +advice followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the +others threw themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning +found the outfit astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon +and remuda were started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping +instructions were merely a repetition of previous consignments, and +the train had barely left the station when the cavalcade rode to +overtake the commissary.</p> +<p>The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest +was allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the +cook and wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below +headquarters. We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the +creek. Our only round-up to-morrow will be well above the old +winter corral. It's our last gathering of beef, and we want to make +a general round-up of the range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so +that it'll be late when we reach camp."</p> +<p>The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted +the Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that +spring, was less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering +off there, the drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and +a general drift begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits +of the range, pointed the cattle into the valley, and by moving +forward and converging as the evening advanced, a general drift was +maintained. The pace was barely that of grazing, and as darkness +approached, all cattle on the lower end of the range were grazed +safely above the night camp and left adrift.</p> +<p>The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and +threes. There was little danger of the cattle returning to their +favorite range during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an +early hour in the morning the drag-net was again thrown out from +camp. Headquarters was passed before the horsemen began +encountering any quantity of cattle, and after passing the old +winter corral, the men on the points of the half-circle were sent +to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the middle of the +forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle naturally turned +into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete circles +brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner +was waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders +rang out. "Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh +horses," said Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and +cutting out will be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the +beeves, and that will turn the rest of us free to watch the +round-up and cut out."</p> +<p>By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to +cut out the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, +while Sargent and an assistant would confine their selections to +the single-wintered ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally +his own work, even car-loads were required, and a total would +constitute the shipment. The cutting out began quietly; but after a +nucleus of beeves were selected, their numbers gained at the rate +of three to five a minute, while the sweat began to reek from the +horses.</p> +<p>Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his +services to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was +relieved from guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of +Manly. A steady stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a +comparison of figures was made. Manly was limited to one hundred +and twenty head, completing an even thousand shipped from the +brand, and lacking four, was allowed to complete his number. +Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim the general +herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was all +that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference +resulted in cutting two loads extra.</p> +<p>"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said +Sargent, as he dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. +"Any aged steers left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their +way to hold another year. Turn the round-up adrift."</p> +<p>After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general +herd up the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in +corralling his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the +beeves were grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a +night at headquarters in some time, the wagon serving as a +substitute, and orders for evening freed all hands except two men +on herd with the beeves.</p> +<p>The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel +and Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting +the main herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and +relieved from further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, +were arranged for the night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up +the creek and freed near Hackberry Grove, and on returning to +overtake the beeves, the two horsemen crossed a spur of the +tableland, jutting into the valley, affording a perfect view of the +surrounding country.</p> +<p>With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to +a halt. Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the +plain, hung an ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a +glance.</p> +<p>Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the +Republican," said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from +Ogalalla. The pitch of their dust shows they're trailing +south."</p> +<p>The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running +train and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a +distance, pitches upward from a horizon line, and the moving +direction of train or herd is easily read by an observant +plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed on reaching +headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, the +latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the new +trail.</p> +<p>The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. +He protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, +even to looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said +he, "and it's up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering +around all summer with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, +I'll take orders from no one. We made rather a forced drive from +the Republican, and I want a good night's rest for both the herd +and myself. Ten o'clock in the morning will be early enough to +tender the cattle for delivery. In the mean time, our pilot, the +red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. As for myself, I'm +going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls or wakes me in +the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a right smart +of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling."</p> +<p>Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the +herd in presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves +were grazed up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged +for the night, which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a +matter of precaution, a dead-line must be maintained between the +wintered and the through cattle; and as Manly was to remain another +year, he and an assistant were detailed to stay at headquarters. A +reduced mount of horses was allowed them, and starting the beeves +at daybreak, the wagon and remuda followed several hours later.</p> +<p>The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon +when the through herd was reached, grazed and watered to +surfeiting, and a single glance satisfied Joel Wells that the +cattle fully met every requirement. The question of age was +disposed of as easily as that of quality.</p> +<p>"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the +foreman, "and each age was held separate until the herds were made +up. I started with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, +with ten head extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our +count on leaving Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing +to class or count them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the +herd."</p> +<p>Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the +scattered cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a +straight count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived +his intent to classify the cattle.</p> +<p>"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm +going to class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and +Manly count against Sargent and myself."</p> +<p>A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing +formation, the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the +open the difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance +in quieting the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and +the count attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off +a number of the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. +Thereafter, the trail outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, +who sat their horses in speechless intensity, as the column filed +through at random. Each man used a string, containing ten knots, +checking the hundreds by slipping the knots, and when the last hoof +had passed in review, the quiet of a long hour was relieved by a +general shout, when the trail outfit dashed up to know the +result.</p> +<p>"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as +the quartette rode together.</p> +<p>"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in +for good measure. What's your count?"</p> +<p>"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered +Sargent, turning to Joel.</p> +<p>"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy.</p> +<p>The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young +fellow," said he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. +If you bought these cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be +safe in receiving them. We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and +fifteen hundred threes, and any overplus falls to the red-headed +pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud would call a Texas count and +classification. Shake out your horses; dinner's waiting."</p> +<p>There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an +assistant, and an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of +whom volunteered from the through outfit. The foreman was invited +to move up to headquarters and rest to his heart's content, but in +his anxiety to report to his employer, the invitation was +declined.</p> +<p>"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the +railroad until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do +is to get in touch with my Uncle Dudley."</p> +<p>"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" +sputtered Manly, as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the +beef herd.</p> +<p>"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If +this shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City +and pick up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. +Until you see or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your +cattle."</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>INDEPENDENCE</h3> + +<p>The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the +beeves. Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, +and on the arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in +classifying it for market and corralling the different grades of +cattle.</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment +was safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the +morning. An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a +wire from the west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the +telegram to Joel; "wants all three of us to come into the +city."</p> +<p>"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear +enough. There's an understanding between us. At the earliest +convenience, after the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and +draw up the final papers. We'll all go in with this shipment."</p> +<p>"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?"</p> +<p>"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the +cattle train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the +outfits at the new trail market."</p> +<p>"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of +riding horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and +let me put my little feet under a table once more."</p> +<p>The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The +outfits received their orders, and at the usual hour in the +morning, the shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a +saddle, Dell was walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper +in charge, riding on the engine, or hungering for the rare stories +with which the trail foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed +like a brief hour, the train threading its way past corn fields, +country homes, and scorning to halt at the many straggling villages +that dotted the route.</p> +<p>It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The +present, their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen +hundred beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their +operations in cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, +could be condensed into a simple statement. The brothers could +barely wait the intervening hours, and when the train reached the +market and they had retired for the night, speculation ran rife in +planning the future. And amid all their dreams and air castles, in +the shadowy background stood two simple men whose names were never +mentioned except in terms of loving endearment.</p> +<p>Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. +"They're all good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a +prince. He gave us our start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we +can never pay it. And he never owned a hoof himself."</p> +<p>"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us +our chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of +making bound boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are +to-day."</p> +<p>"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves +by the train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand."</p> +<p>An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had +crossed the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place +during the afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. +The execution of a new contract was a mere detail; but when the +chief bookkeeper handed in a statement covering the shipments of +this and the previous year, a lull in the gayety was followed by a +moment of intense interest. The account showed a balance of +sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of Wells Brothers!</p> +<p>"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. +Stoddard, amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; +we're all going out to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains +on that market, and the boys want to stock their range fully."</p> +<p>"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. +"And if the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't +hesitate to draw on us. The manner in which they have protected +their credit entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come +first. Their prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies +before you boys, and we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in +touch with us; we may hear of something to your advantage."</p> +<p>"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring +Texas cattle into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel.</p> +<p>"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not +be able to, but in securing business, railroads look years +ahead."</p> +<p>A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning +found their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old +trail market of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild +sunflower, was passed like a way station. The new market was only a +mile over the state line, in Colorado, and on nearing their +destination the party drew together.</p> +<p>"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, +"and I want you to understand that there's no obligation to even +look at them. Mr. Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men +have not been seen since the herds passed north in June. But I'll +help you buy any cattle you want."</p> +<p>In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following +their fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape +up our holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For +that reason, we prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your +remnant; there would be no occasion to rebrand, which is an +advantage."</p> +<p>The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the +outer portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. +The Arkansas River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to +the main stream, affording abundant water to the herds on sale, +while a bountiful range surrounded the market. Shipping pens, +branding chutes, and every facility for handling cattle were +complete.</p> +<p>The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean +time, it became rumored about that the two boys who had returned +with Mr. Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of +cattle. The presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of +protection around the brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who +were made acquainted with his protégés and their +errand freely discussed.</p> +<p>"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a +group of his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and +another at Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest +Kansas. Just shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had +them on yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about +three thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter +of credit is good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle +myself. They naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an +interest in the boys. Their outfit ought to be in by +to-morrow."</p> +<p>Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, +and every attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a +morning's drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been +carefully looked over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only +a few herds possessed their original numbers, none of which were +acceptable to the buyers, while the smaller ones frequently +contained the desired grade and age.</p> +<p>"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. +Stoddard, in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are +tired out, disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if +you'll buy out our little remnants and send us home--well, we'd +almost let you name the price. Unless my herds are under contract, +this is my last year on the trail."</p> +<p>The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred +head. They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and +as an inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser +age, and priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the +Beaver. On range markets, there was a difference in the selling +value of the two ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as +one third of the cattle would have classed as threes, Joel waived +his objection to their ages.</p> +<p>"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your +outfits home, but you hang around until we make up our herd."</p> +<p>"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice +would be to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer +makes them all alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come +out of the kinks, and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps +your cattle quiet and on the home range. You might keep an eye open +for any bargains in she stuff."</p> +<p>"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought +to have a cow to every ten or fifteen steers."</p> +<p>"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and +knows cattle right down to the split in their hoof. With his and +your judgment, we ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few +days."</p> +<p>The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The +next morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the +through outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a +detail, and the remainder of the men sent home by rail. In +acquiring a nucleus, Wells Brothers fell heir to a temporary range +and camp, which thereafter became their headquarters.</p> +<p>A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to +Sargent, and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his +best efforts to bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in +earnest, on the different fragments acceptable in age and quality. +Prices on range cattle were nearly standard, at least established +for the present, and any yielding on the part of drovers was in +classing and conceding ages. Bargaining began on the smaller +remnants, and once the buyers began to receive and brand, there was +a flood of offerings, and the herd was made up the second day. The +---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast as received, and +when completed, the herd numbered a few over thirty-four hundred +head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings was not +overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased.</p> +<p>"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but +we're only going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had +better hold over the line in Colorado until after the first +frost."</p> +<p>"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's +sure."</p> +<p>"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that +will take us home, with or without a bill of health."</p> +<p>The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and +the herd started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week +later it crossed the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the +herd, returning to their local station. A haying outfit was +engaged, placed under the direction of Manly, and after spending a +few days at headquarters, the young cowman returned to the +railroad.</p> +<p>The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight +danger in using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; +and after a conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the +country between their range and the Colorado line. The first herd +of cattle had located nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the +dead-line; and taking a pack horse, Joel and Manly started to +explore the country between the upper tributaries of the Beaver and +the Colorado line.</p> +<p>A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of +the first day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of +which was back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On +resuming their scout in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, +admitting of an immense survey of country, but not until evening +was water in any quantity encountered. The scouts were beginning to +despair of finding water for the night, when an immense herd of +antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an easy gallop and +disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game trail, a +perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. A +venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured.</p> +<p>The glare of the plain required early observation. The white +haze, heat waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out +distinct objects during the day. On leaving the friendly sand +hills, the horsemen bore directly for the timber on the Republican, +which was sighted the third morning, and reached the river by +noon.</p> +<p>No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the +new and old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging +from their hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new +crossing on the river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented +observations; and as they followed the high ground along the +Republican, at early evening indistinct objects were made out on +the border of a distant mirage.</p> +<p>The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the +optical illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, +forests and white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn +aside and rest. But the allurement of the mirage was an old story, +and holding the objects in view, they jogged on, halting from time +to time as the illusions lifted.</p> +<p>Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, +the objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted +Manly. "We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!"</p> +<p>"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the +valley! above that motte of cotton-woods!"</p> +<p>"It's a camp! Come on!"</p> +<p>The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the +scouts advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was +noticeable, and on a far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. +On reaching the cattle, a single glance was given, when the brands +told the remainder of the story.</p> +<p>A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, +and after hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: +"After leaving the Republican," said he, "there's water between +here and home in two places. None of them are over thirty miles +apart--a day and a half's drive. I have a bill of health for these +cattle, and turn the herd down the river in the morning."</p> +<p>The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. +The herd had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water +in abundance, the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from +home. There was no object in waiting any great distance from +headquarters, and after a day's travel down the Republican, a tack +was made for the sand hills.</p> +<p>A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, +followed by a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had +been sighted was reached at evening the next day.</p> +<p>It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was +decided to isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp +was within easy touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five +men, the commissary, and half the remuda, the remainder returned to +the Beaver valley. The water would hold the cattle, and even if a +month elapsed before frost lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy +every freedom.</p> +<p>The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the +Republican were paid for their services, commended for their +faithfulness, and went their way. Preparations for winter were the +next concern; and while holding the dead-line, plans for two new +line-camps were outlined, one below the old trail crossing and the +other an emergency shelter on the Prairie Dog. Forage had been +provided at both points, and in outlining the winter lines, Joel +submitted his idea for Manly's approval.</p> +<p>"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the +Beaver valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his +feet. "We'll have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break +through during a storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the +Prairie Dog. In case that line is broken, we can drop down to the +railroad and make another attempt to check any drift. And as a last +resort, whether we hold the line or not, we'll send an outfit as +far south as the Arkansas River, and attend the spring round-ups +from there north to the Republican. We have the horses and men, and +no one can throw out a wider drag-net than our outfit. Let the +winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead when spring +comes."</p> + +<p>The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except +in its new environment, their occupation was as old as the human +race, our heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They +belonged to a period in the development of our common country, +dating from a day when cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth +of our national domain. They and their kind were our pioneers, our +empire builders; for when a cowman pushed into some primal valley +and possessed it with his herd, his ranch became an outpost on our +frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their ranges were controlled +without investment, their cattle roamed the virgin pastures of an +unowned land.</p> +<p>Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the +course of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and +uncertain outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but +have arisen triumphant over every storm. From their humble +beginning, chronicled here, within two decades the brothers +acquired no less than seven ranches in the Northwest, while their +holdings of cattle often ran in excess of one hundred thousand +head. The trail passed away within two years of the close of this +narrative; but from their wide acquaintance with former drovers, +cattle with which to restock their ranches were brought north by +rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring trusty men; +and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors found ready +employment with their former protégés. And to-day, in +the many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the +arid regions, among the directors of their companies the names of +J.Q. Forrest and John P. Priest may be found.</p> +<p>A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis +of the West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, +gave way to the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler +crept up the valley, was repulsed again and again by the plain, +only to renew his assault until success crowned his efforts. It was +then that the brothers saw their day and dominion passing into the +hands of another. But instead of turning to new fields, they +remained with the land that nurtured and rewarded them, an equally +promising field opening in financing vast irrigation enterprises +and in conserving the natural water supply.</p> +<p>Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes +wrested from the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of +life, while the opportunities of a thrifty country invite their +assistance and leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested +in every development of their state, preferring those avenues where +heroic endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the +political arena.</p> +<p>Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure +of personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, +famed for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, +paid one of our heroes the following tribute:--</p> +<p>"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive +chair. We are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state +seems adrift, without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In +casting about for a governor who would fully meet all requirements, +one name stands alone. Joel Wells can give M---- a business +administration. Educated in the rough school of experience, he has +fought his way up from a poor boy on the plains to an enviable +leadership in the many industries of the state. He could bring to +the executive office every requirement of the successful business +man, and impart to his administration that mastery which marks +every enterprise of Wells Brothers...."</p> +<p>The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to +adorn this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his +chance in life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. +Material nature is prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass +under our feet, or in harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our +success.</p> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions + whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms + of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online + at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/002.png b/old/12791-h/images/002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e223186 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/002.png diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/12791-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7874bbb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg b/old/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a638605 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/illus0001-1.jpg diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg b/old/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..df1cf61 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/illus0106-1.jpg diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg b/old/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..de925e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/illus0164-1.jpg diff --git a/old/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg b/old/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9536943 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12791-h/images/illus0310-1.jpg diff --git a/old/old/12791-8.txt b/old/old/12791-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bba4a15 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/12791-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8257 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Wells Brothers + +Author: Andy Adams + +Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12791] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Charlie Kirschner and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 12791-h.htm or 12791-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791/12791-h/12791-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791/12791-h.zip) + + + + + +WELLS BROTHERS + +The Young Cattle Kings + +by + +ANDY ADAMS + +1911 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON (p.26)] + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + III. THE BOTTOM RUNG + IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + V. A FALL OF CRUMBS + VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK +VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + X. GOOD FIGHTING + XI. HOLDING THE FORT + XII. A WINTER DRIFT +XIII. A WELCOME GUEST + XIV. AN ILL WIND + XV. WATER! WATER! + XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT +XVII. "THE WAGON" +XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER + XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE + XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE + XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE + XXII. INDEPENDENCE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + + +The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for the +Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran drover, +Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway between the +former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious mishap befell +Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and the horse wrangler, +who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, reckless to the point of +injury, the pulse of healthy manhood beating a constant alarm to +rough contest. + +The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had overtaken +the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. During the evening, +a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when the stranger expressed a +wish to secure a specimen of the bird for its splendid plumage. On +Forrest's own suggestion, his being a long-range pistol and the covey +wary, the two exchanged belts. The visitor followed the flock, stealing +within range a number of times, and emptying the six-shooter at every +chance. On securing a fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the +herd, elated over his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before +returning the belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of +five cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and pistol +were returned to their owner. + +Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while the +outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in pastoral +contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the morning's work, when +the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly remarked: "If everybody's +ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; it's high time we were in the +saddle. Of course, that means the parting tussle between Quince and the +wrangler. It would be a shame to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- +they remind me so much of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in +and worry each other a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. +Fly at it, or we mount." + +The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the men +swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility of a +tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him to the +ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had barely time to +turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the two crashed against +the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was discharged. The men dismounted +instantly, the wrangler eased the victim to the ground, and when the +outfit gathered around, the former was smothering the burning clothing +of his friend and bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was +the first indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found +that the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground. + +The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular remarks of +the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly recalled to the +surrounding group, while the negligence which caused the accident was +politely suppressed. The stranger, innocently unaware of any mistake on +his part, lent a valuable hand in stanching the blood and in washing and +binding up the wounds. No bones were injured, and with youth and a +buoyant constitution, there was every hope of recovery. + +However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No one could +recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican River, unless +down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the visitor came to the +rescue. He was positive that some two years before, an old soldier had +taken a homestead five or six miles above the trail crossing on the +Beaver. He was insistent, and the foreman yielded so far as to order the +herd grazed forward to the Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in +their front. All the blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought +into use, in making a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan +started, carrying the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, +the foreman bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek. + +The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be correct. +About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, fringed with +willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which the homestead was +located. The presence of the willows was an indication of old beaver +dams, which the settler had improved until the water stood in long, +placid pools. In response to their hail, two boys, about fourteen and +sixteen years of age, emerged from the dug-out and greeted the horsemen. +On inquiry, it proved that their father had died during the previous +winter, at a settlement on the Solomon River, and the boys were then +confronted with the necessity of leaving the claim to avoid suffering +want. It was also learned that their mother had died before their father +had taken the homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight +their own battle. + +The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were bright-eyed +and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. Joel was the +oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by nature, with a shock +of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in height, the younger was the +equal of his brother, talkative, and frank in countenance. When made +acquainted with the errand of the trail boss, the older boy shook his +head, but Dell stepped forward: "Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of +his hand, "but our garden failed, and there won't be a dozen +roasting-ears in that field of corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it +might make fodder. We expect to pull out next week." + +"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman. + +"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's pension +was stopped. You see--" + +"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can help each +other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter and nurse this +wounded man of mine--" + +"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the sooner we +get out and find work the better." + +"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail man, now +aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a quarter +of beef." + +"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh meat." + +"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave the money +with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, I'll unload my +wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. I can get more +provision at the Republican River, and in the mean time, something +may turn up." + +The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the necessity of +accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every suggestion, but his +brother was tactful, questioning and combating the men, and looking +well to the future. A cold and unfriendly world, coupled with +misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his years, while the younger +one was sympathetic, trustful, and dependent. + +"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," said Dell +to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in time for +corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth fifty cents." + +"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this wounded +man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell how soldiers +died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we have to go, we +might as well go at once." + +According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the wayfaring +man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good Samaritan, the +older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with enthusiasm at the +opportunity of rendering every assistance. + +"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, but it's +because we're so poor and have nothing to offer." + +"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let me do the +rest." + +"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?" + +"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll leave two +good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you need to do is +to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and simply tell them +you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don Lovell's boys, and you can +levy on them for all they have. It's high time you were getting +acquainted with these trail outfits. Shelter this man of mine, and all +will come out well in the end. Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you +boys, and he might take you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, +and he might take a fancy to you two." + +Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two brothers +rentered the dug-out, and the men led their horses down to the creek +for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood inside a wooden corral, a +rickety wagon and a few rusty farming implements were scattered about, +while over all the homestead was the blight of a merciless +summer drouth. + +"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail boss to the +stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this water and range, +in a few years they would be independent men. No wonder that oldest boy +is cautious. Just look around and see the reward of their father's and +their own labor. Their very home denies them bread." + +"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, "when you +suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only argument that +touched him." + +"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have several +cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs and the +like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make their hungry +hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest would make the +ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving them each a saddle +pony; argue the matter, and try and win me over." + +The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when scarcely +halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to meet them. "If +you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," earnestly said the boy, +"we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to be feverish at night, and +ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can sleep outside or in the stable." + +"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter I'll bet +my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? Why, you can +have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the outfit. I have a +rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I have a lurking suspicion +that there are a few genuine goose-hair pillows in the outfit, and you +may pick and choose. They are all yours for the asking." + +The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for entering +the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. When all +agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their horses, promising to +fulfill their part of the covenant that afternoon or evening. + +Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is all +right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he tried to +shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. Hereafter, in +dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The death of his parents +has developed a responsibility in the older boy which the younger one +doesn't feel. That's about all the difference in the two lads. You must +deal gently with Joel, and never offend him or expose his needs." + +"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's the name +of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home with those +boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a week he'll have +those youngsters walking on clouds." + +The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a dust +cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then hidden behind +the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On every hand the +undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and the men rode forward +at a leisurely pace. + +"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail foreman, +arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. This government +ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, robbing children, +orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a fair sample of the skin +game the government's running--bets you one hundred and sixty acres +against fourteen dollars you can't hold down a homestead for five years. +And big as the odds look, in nine cases out of ten, in this country, the +government wins. It ought to be convicted on general principles. Men are +not to be pitied, but it's a crime against women and children." + +"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the stranger; "you +would kick if you were being hung. There's good in everything. A few +years of youthful poverty, once they reach manhood, isn't going to hurt +those boys. The school of experience has its advantages." + +"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next few +years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. "Now, there's +the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and select a good camp, +well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet the commissary and herd. +We'll have to lay over this afternoon, which will admit of watering the +herd twice to-day. Try and find some shade." + +The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman hailed +his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and reported securing a +haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook to watch for a signal, +at the hands of the stranger, indicating a camp on the creek, he turned +and awaited the arrival of the lead cattle of the trailing column. +Issuing orders to cover the situation, he called off half the men, first +veering the herd to the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon +and saddle horses. + +Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long pool. A +hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which a tarpaulin +was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered canopy. Amid a fire +of questions, the wounded man was lifted from the wagon. + +"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said he +appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there is, I +ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can see your +eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me peevish. I want to +feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, tell it all over +once more." + +The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which the +foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and making +valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their guest while +he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after the accident, by +insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the boys and bespeaking +their protection. + +The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew that the +hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the same. "Very +well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my calf that's +gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every stranger that +comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly cow hands." He +hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he continued, "about this +nester layout is those red-headed boys. And these two are just about +petting age. I can almost see them eating sugar out of my hand." + +After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of medical +aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had returned and +reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately the destination of +the stranger was a settlement on the Republican River, and he +volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night and secure a +surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile calls. The owner +of the herd, had he been present, would have insisted on medical +attention, the wounded man reluctantly consented, and the stranger, +carrying a hastily written letter to Mr. Lovell, took his departure. + +Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, but in a +roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the one-room shack was +bountifully provisioned, while the foreman remained to await the arrival +of a physician. The day had brought forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from +the dark hour of want to the dawn of plenty, while the future was a +sealed book. In addition to the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung +in the sod stable, while two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the +questioning boys. + +"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as their backs +were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see they are unfit for +saddle, but with a little attention can be cured--I'll show you how. You +have an abundance of water, and after I leave, wash their backs, morning +and evening, and they'll be well in a month. Since you are running a +trail hospital, you want to cater to man and beast. Of course, if you +boys nurse this man through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal +to Mr. Lovell to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case +you return to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here." + +The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The transformation +seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was toned and tempered +by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day had filled empty hearts +with happiness, and when darkness fell, the boys threw off all former +reserve, and the bond of host and guest was firmly established. Forrest, +even, cemented the tie, by dividing any needful attention between +the boys. + +"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the presence of +the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest one Doc and the +youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them just plain Joel and +Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor bright, I never met a boy +who can pour water on a wound, that seems to go to the right spot, like +Dell Wells. One day with another, give me a red-headed boy." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + + +The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in the +tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to pouring +water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had reached a swollen +condition by morning, and considerable anxiety was felt over the +uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned the previous evening, +it was possible that one might arrive by noon, otherwise there was no +hope before evening or during the night. + +"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor comes +from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and save an +hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to the first +divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it when he went +to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the doctor a six or +seven mile drive." + +"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the trail +foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can post the +boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this afternoon or +evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the stirrup straps on +Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?" + +"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired the +horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now that a +chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. "Why, I can +follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used to go halfway to +the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new boots." + +"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient seems +to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there will be +plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share." + +The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after the horse +stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object lesson to the +boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting the horse to be +fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell was allowed to ride +past the tent for inspection. + +"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell halted +before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think that that boy +was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle poise, will you, +Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is slightly sun-burned. We must +get him some boots. With that red hair, he never ought to ride any other +horse than a black stallion." + +When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent to +intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided the +matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply can't spare +Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, and we'll have to +give it an occasional rubbing to keep the circulation up. There's where +Dell has the true touch; actually he reminds me of my mother. She could +tie a rag around a sore toe, in a way that would make a boy forget all +his trouble. Hold Joel a minute." + +The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded man, and +when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he continued: "Now, +Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with you. Show them the brand +on that horse you're riding, and give them distinctly to understand, +even if you are barefooted, that you are one of Don Lovell's men. Of +course you don't know him, but with that old man, it's love me, love my +dog. Get your dinner with the outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the +south. There's liable to be another herd along any day, and we'll need +a cow." + +Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of age; +neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts went out in +manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the other hand, a day had +brought forth promise and fulfillment, from strangers, to the boys, +until the latter's confidence knew no bounds. At random, the men +virtually spoke of the cattle on a thousand hills, until the boys fully +believed that by merely waving a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow +walk forth. Where two horses were promised, four had appeared. Where +their little store of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been +multiplied many fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with +intrusion, a tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, +had risen out of a dip in the plain. + +There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any discourtesy +to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman saddled his horse and +accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully reviewing the details of his +errand. Left behind, and while rubbing the wounded limb, Dell regaled +his patient with a scrap of family history. "Pa never let us boys go +near the trail," said he. "It seemed like he was afraid of you Texas +men; afraid your cattle would trample down our fields and drink up all +our water. The herds were so big." + +"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, "the owner +would pay for it, which would be better than letting it go to waste. One +day's hot winds would absorb more water than the biggest herd of cattle +could drink. This ain't no farming country." + +"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this season, +and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me rub your knee, +there where the bullet skipped, between the bandages." + +The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning farming +for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," said he, +"was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given them the water, +with or without price, and bought any cripples or sore-footed cattle. +Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle on these long drives, and +he could have bought them for a song and sung it himself. The buffalo +grass on the divides and among these sand hills is the finest winter +grazing in the country. This water that you are wasting would have +yearly earned you one hundred head of cripples. A month's rest on this +creek and they would kick up their heels and play like calves. After +one winter on this range, they would get as fat as plover. Your father +missed his chance by not making friends with the Texas trail men." + +"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell. + +"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, you and +Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. Cast your +bread upon the waters." + +"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There was a +marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the trail boss +cantered up to the tent. + +"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a dim +trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to have built +a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle trail. In case the +doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent orders to fly a flag at the +junction, and Joel to return home. But if the doctor doesn't reach there +until after darkness, he'll never see the flag, and couldn't follow the +trail if he did. We'll have to send Joel back." + +"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; build it +in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the road." + +"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to Dell, +"but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse and turn him +in the corral." + +The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came riding +in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the herd, a flag +had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other instructions +delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance to the ford on the +Republican, and could figure to an hour, by different saddle gaits, the +necessary time to cover the distance, even to Culbertson. Still there +was a measure of uncertainty: the messenger might have lost his way; +there might not have been any physician within call; accidents might +have happened to horse or rider,--and one hour wore away, followed +by another. + +Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six o'clock. "It's +my intention to follow him within an hour," said the foreman, as the boy +rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build the fire as well as any +one, and we'll return before midnight. That'll give the doctor the last +minute and the benefit of every doubt." + +The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over the +valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the neigh of a +horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers when he sights a +wagon or camp. Dell's come." + +Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a buckboard +following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle rattled up, led by +the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a battery of artillery. "This +is the place, Doctor," said he, as if dismissing a troop from +cavalry drill. + +The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had left +Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team at the +ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles since +sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," said he, as he +entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to do. Your men with the +herd told me how the accident happened." Then to Forrest, "Son, think +it'll ever happen again?" + +"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," replied +Forrest. + +"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: they +usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," commented the +doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the examination proceeded, +there was a running comment maintained, bordering on the humorous. + +"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would allow the +boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short lecture on the +danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a loaded cartridge. The +boys are young and may take the lesson seriously, but you're wasting +good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm an old dog." + +"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued the +doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. There's an +occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but that's not in my +department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry for muscle, but +fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is just a simple case of +treatment and avoiding complications. Six weeks to two months and you +can buckle on your six-shooter again. Hereafter, better wear it on the +other side, and if another accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in +each leg and level you up." + +"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," protested +Forrest. + +"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with a quiet +wink at the others. + +The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the boys. +Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance of making +friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the purchase of +disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the boys were snugly +in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd to-day?--afraid of the +cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former subject was exhausted. + +"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of his +bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other folks." + +Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not shooting and +galloping their horses?" + +"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a shot +fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a hair, and they +changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I could see, they +wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely cowboys, because they +had over three thousand big beeves, and had come all the way +from Texas." + +"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment. + +"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The column of +cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city street, and +the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of their own accord. +Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no one as much as looked +at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. The herd seemed so easy +to handle." + +"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell. + +"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for their +places. Those in the lead were _point_ men, those in the middle were +_swing_ men, and the one who brought up the rear was the _drag_ man. +Then there was the cook, who drove the wagon, and the wrangler, who took +care of the horses--over one hundred and forty head. They call the band +of saddle horses the remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for +relay--a relay of horses." + +"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would buy us a +cow from the next herd that passed." + +"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the Yellowstone +River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the smartest cattle! +An hour before noon one of the point men gave a shrill whistle, and the +whole column of beeves turned aside and began feeding. The men called it +'throwing the herd off the trail to graze.' It was just like saying +_halt_! to soldiers--like we saw at that reunion in Ohio." + +"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger brother. + +"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on horseback. Stop +asking foolish questions and go to sleep," concluded Joel, with pitying +finality, and turned to the wall. + +"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" There was +challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no answer. A +seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight over the other, +in range cattle, and there was no common ground between sleepy +bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted in the doctor, +anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded his assertion. + +Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the wounds. The +doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged otherwise. "Let's call it +Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. Besides, if I overtake the herd, +I'll have to make a hand. Wait until to-morrow, and we'll bear each +other company. If another herd shows up on the trail to-day, it may have +a cow. We must make these boys comfortable." + +The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by quarreling with +his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel rode out to the +nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on the upper Beaver. +"That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, "and where we get our +wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the bottom land has grown up +with timber, some as big as a man's body. It doesn't look very far away, +but it takes all day to go and come, hauling wood. There's big springs +just above, and the water never fails. That's what makes the trees +so thrifty." + +"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said Priest, +surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There are the sand +hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet of grass." + +"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had to go +to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and what we could +earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved up; pa's service +in the army counted on the residence required. It doesn't matter now if +we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is to keep the taxes paid." + +"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail boss in +fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you boys only had +the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on shares, or buy +young steers on a credit." + +"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully replied +Joel. + +"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly replied +the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of your +beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are hunting a +market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the range, and the +cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it." + +"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in his +bewilderment. + +"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and every +one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. "Range is +being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's your chance. +Water and grass, world without end." + +Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older man's +advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The grind of +poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely looked +forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the domain +surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I don't doubt your +advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you could, but Dell and +I had better return to the settlements. Mr. Quince will surely be +well by fall." + +"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman. + +"I will," eagerly replied the boy. + +"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you are +thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if he knows +any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to stock it. In +the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do that?" + +"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the promise. + +"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended on +securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows all the +drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until the season +ends. Now, don't fail to ask him." + +"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that control +of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that it had +a value?" + +"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never lose sight +of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten thousand cattle, +the year round, is as good as money in the bank." + +Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned their +horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the southward, but were +unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the signal of an approaching +herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that he had instilled interest and +inquiry into the boy's mind, which, if carefully nurtured, might result +in independence. They had ridden several miles, discussing different +matters, and when within sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his +horse. "Would you mind repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, +about control of a range by prior rights?" + +The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On the +range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates back to the +first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense of equity and +justice which has always existed among pastoral people. In America it +dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. Among us Texans, a man's +range is respected equally with his home. By merely laying claim to the +grazing privileges of public domain, and occupying it with flocks or +herds, the consent of custom gives a man possession. It is an asset that +is bought and sold, and is only lost when abandoned. In all human +migrations, this custom has followed flocks and herds. Title to land is +the only condition to which the custom yields." + +"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with cattle, and +hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated the boy. + +"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's primal +range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, the settler, +seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is yours. Go in +and win." + +"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel. + +"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. That +old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. There's an +old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now if you have the +will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince will find the way. +Try him, anyhow." + +"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the morning." + +The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening was spent +in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, Priest said to the +doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd like your opinion about +these boys starting a little ranch on the Beaver." + +"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, "there are +too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise nothing out +here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are you cowmen. You +ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, and your general +health is actually discouraging to my profession. Yes, I think I'll have +to approve of the suggestion. A life in the open, an evening by a +camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I wish I had my life to live +over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wells Brothers making a big +success as ranchmen. They have health and youth, and there's nothing +like beginning at the bottom of the ladder. In fact, the proposition has +my hearty approval. Fight it out, boys; start a ranch." + +"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen want to +make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses while I get +breakfast. Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BOTTOM RUNG + + +An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, as the +Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity of pastoral +life affects its people, influencing their normal natures into calm and +tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected start at sunrise, after +breakfast the trail foreman languidly sauntered out to the corral, +followed by the boys. + +The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you think is +detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun is nearly an +hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him from the tent +opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with his quirt and +chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they are talking about?" + +"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll chance the +subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow with the boys, +most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life easy--the cows will calve +in the spring." + +Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss put in an +appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, are you, +Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile. + +"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. Still, I +am some little distance from home, and have a family that likes to see +me occasionally." + +The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest to the +boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable to think of +something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to killing time, that +old boy is the bell steer." + +Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was to +intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance among +trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days before, while +passing that supply point, and it was a matter of waiting until a herd +should appear. + +There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the nearest +swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working overtime; the dust +cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the message, the sentinel's +horse tore past the tent and was only halted at the corral. "It's +there!" he shouted, returning, peering through the tent-flaps. "They're +coming; another herd's coming. It's in the dip behind the first divide. +Shall I go? I saw it first." + +"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and let's make a +little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we get a cow. Come +in and we'll plot against the Texans." + +With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, Forrest +continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk the situation +over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the trouble is, we +don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play innocent and foxy. +If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll water in the Beaver about +four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek and keep your eagle eye open for +a lone horseman, either at the crossing or on the trail. That's the +foreman, and that's the man we want to see. He may be ten miles in the +lead of his herd, and you want to ride straight to him. Give him all the +information you can regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of +Lovell's herds. That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up +to your errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask the +foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your work is +over, except going back after the cow." + +Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold on," +commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride slowly, let +your horse set his own pace, and don't come back without your man. Make +out that I'm badly wounded, and that you feel uneasy that blood +poisoning may set in." + +The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of the +tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount over +level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the horse, and +before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came in view of the +anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the horizon, the haze and +heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view that every object looked +blurred and indistinct. Even the dust cloud was missing; and pushing on +a mile farther, he reined in again. Now and then in the upper sky, an +intervening cloud threw a shadow over the plain, revealing objects more +distinctly. For a moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like +prophecy fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford! + +In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a fellow +being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing distance, +greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. There was +water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no pilot, the summons +found a ready response, and the two were soon riding up the Beaver in +a jog trot. + +The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon had +Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell outfit," said +the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. Old man Don's a +nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on the trail. I've been +expecting to hear something like this. If it isn't rebranding their +saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure to be something worse. And +now that flat-headed Quince Forrest plows a fire-guard down his own leg +with a six-shooter! Well, wouldn't that sour sweet milk!" + +"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his pistol, +and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge." + +"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's an old +story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some prowling +tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this short-horn. Yes, +I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his saddle and ride +bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. Rather shallow-brained +to be allowed so far from home." + +"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At least Mr. +Quince don't speak very highly of that man." + +"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth ever comes +out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel Quince is +famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable door. That +other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of Bibles, never to +bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game never repeats; the play +never comes up twice alike. If that old boy's gray matter ever comes to +full bloom, long before his allotted time, he'll wither away." + +Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend was +weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either Priest or +Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming faults of others +that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even questioned Dell with +such an innocent countenance that the lad withered before his glance, +and became disheartened at the success of the errand. Forced to the +defense continually, on several occasions Dell nearly betrayed the +object of bringing the new man to the homestead, but in each instance +was saved by some fortunate turn in the conversation. Never was sight +more welcome than the tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief +from duty more welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to +the boy who had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the +object of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust. + +The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, in order +to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and the flaps, +rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, Forrest watched +the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, the wounded man's +greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old Nat Straw," said he, +extending his hand. "Here, I've been running over in my mind the +different trail bosses who generally go north of the Platte River, but +you escaped my memory. It must have gotten into my mind, somehow, that +you had married and gone back to chopping cotton. Still driving for +Uncle Jess Ellison, I reckon?" + +"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, glancing at +the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying off, and trying +to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You must be +getting doty." + +"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged that +I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a fool all +your life!" + +Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the boy, as we +rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of fixing in your upper +loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend you, but it was easy to see +that he hadn't known you long." + +"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said Forrest. +"Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I overlooked +warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I can see old Nat +leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors dragging. Don't +believe a word he told you, and don't even give him a pleasant look +while he stays here." + +The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, to water +and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," resumed +Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my hard luck, I've fallen +into angels' hands. These boys are darling fellows. Now before you +leave, square yourself with that youngest one." + +"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied Straw. +"It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that you hear and +only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe hunting oftener +when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. There are just about +so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've got to take them along +with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and mumps." + +During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the sad +condition which confronted the lads, when accident and necessity threw +him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's opinion of the valuable +range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and urged his assistance in +securing some cattle with which to stock and claim it for the boys. + +"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a start in +life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've turned hundreds of +them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the delivery of a herd. +Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of mine to get a few hundred +head during this summer. Here's the place to drop your cripples and +stray cows. From what Paul says, there's range above here for thousands +of cattle, and that's the foundation of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, +it has a value in proportion to its carrying capacity, and Priest and I +want these boys to secure it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to +make a fight for them." + +The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me in and +we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this year to the +same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as last season, and +I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my hands last summer, +held me down to the straight road brand at delivery, and I'll see to it +that there are no strays in my herd this year. I went hungry for fresh +beef, and gave those sharks over forty good strays. They knew I'd have +to leave them behind me. Watch me do it again." + +"About how many have you now, and how do they run?" + +"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a good cow +down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five head, and I'll +cut you out five or six cripples. They could never make it +through, nohow." + +"Any calves among the strays?" + +"Two or three." + +"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the others to +me. We'll let on that I've bought them." + +That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was eaten in +the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail crossing that +afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut out all strays and +cripples. One of the boys would return with him, for the expected cow, +and when volunteers were called for, Dell hesitated in offering his +services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw to Joel, who had jumped at the +chance. "I'm a little weak on this red-headed boy, and when a cow hand +picks on me for his side partner, the choice holds until further orders. +Bring in the horses off picket, son, and we'll be riding." + +The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy departed +than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in love with the +idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to be; just about +midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog wild to get in on +it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get sick myself, and I want to +be a stockholder in this hospital of yours. What's your favorite +color in cows?" + +Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me a +milk-white cow _with a black face_" instantly said Forrest. "White cows +are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to drink +black coffee." + +"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what color +for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no answer. + +"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a dollar a +head more than mongrel colors." + +"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can pick +his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that little passel +of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to Forrest, "that I'm +sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the cows. Yes, I'm coming +back and stay all night." + +Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming back, was +going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but that this +stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he would not trifle +with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded man. All this seemed +so in keeping with the partial outline of Priest, the old gray-haired +foreman, that the boy's caution gave place to firm belief. If generous +princes ever walked the earth, it was just possible that liberal ones in +the rough were still riding it in disguise. + +Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," said he, +throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along with this +strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white one, and you're +to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your place, I'd pick a red +one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head more than any other color." + +There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his brother had +not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered the younger boy. + +"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, with a +loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. "I left it +to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. And say, this +hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one between Dodge and +Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take stock in it. I wonder if +that was what he meant by sawing off a little passel of cattle on Mr. +Quince. Now, don't argue or ask foolish questions, but keep your eyes +and ears open." + +Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to meet his +herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the cattle, then +nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses and rode for the +rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard of the trailing +cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed animals were to be found. +The drag men knew them to a hoof, were delighted to hear that all +cripples were to be dropped, and half a dozen were cut off and started +up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the nearest water," said Straw to the drag +men, "and then push them up the creek until I overtake you. Here's where +we drop our strays and cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail +hospital." + +The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They filled +the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, crowding into +the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek in slaking their +thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost as uniform in size as +that many marbles, and the ease with which a few men handled the herd +became a nine-day wonder to the astonished boy. And when the word passed +around to cut all strays up the creek, the facility with which the men +culled out the alien down to one class and road brand, proved them +masters in the craft. It seemed as easily done as selecting a knife +from among the other trinkets in a boy's pocket. + +After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail boss +drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and classed them +as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with the cripples, the +promised little passel numbered thirty-five cattle, not counting three +calves. Straw excused his men, promising to overtake them the next +morning, and man and boy drifted the nucleus of a future ranch toward +the homestead. + +"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," said +Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one for +yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your choice. Any +time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to pick one for your +own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or bad. Remember, it +carries my compliments to you, as one of the founders of the first +hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle trail." + +Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were dropped to +the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get these tender +steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above the improvements. +You'll find them near here on the water. Now, we'll sight the tent +around the next bend, and you may point out your choice." + +"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, pointing out +a yearling. + +A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted Straw; +"shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that black cow +and calf?" + +"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've heard they +bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the bunch." + +"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her increase +would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a cowman, you'll have +to do some of your own thinking." + +Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally guilty, as +his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived from the random +remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in range cattle, and +Dell's error was based in not relying on his own judgment. + +On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased around to +the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the little herd was +grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving Dell to nurse the +nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted at the tent. "Well," +said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, "that red-headed Dell is +surely the making of a great cowman. All successful men begin at the +bottom of the ladder, and he surely put his foot on the lowest rung. +What do you suppose his choice was?" + +"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest. + +"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if he +didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!" + +Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his laughter. +"Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can say Dell wasn't +true to his colors." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + + +The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the crippled +cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing needful, and +it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. They were driven up +among the others, now scattered about in plain sight in the valley +above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral contentment. + +"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to Forrest, as +the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make this valley look +good. What you want to do now is to keep on drawing more. Don't allow no +outfit to pass without chipping in, at least give them the chance, and +this trail hospital will be on velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell +outfits will tear their shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that +needn't bar the other herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they +can chip in a sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and +if they won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. +You ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays." + +The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply points were +oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long stretches of +unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle to the Northwest, +was an unknown port. The monotony of from three to five months on the +trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, while a glass of milk or +even an hour in the shade was a distinct relief. Straw was reluctant to +go, returning to make suggestions, by way of excuse, and not until +forced by the advancing day did he mount and leave to overtake his herd. + +Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of brands +and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson in reading +brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to right," said +Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or downward. If more than +one brand is on an animal, the upper one is the holding or one in which +ownership is vested. Character brands are known by name, and are used +because difficult to alter. There is scarcely a letter in the alphabet +that a cattle thief can't change. When a cow brute leaves its home +range, it's always a temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and +characters are not so easily changed." + +The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that cattle +were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A notice was +accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, from the Texas +and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same, +including all its tributaries, by virtue of possession and occupancy +vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. "How does that sound?" inquired +Forrest, its author, giving a literal reading of the notice. "Nothing +small or stingy about that, eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty." + +"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big country?" +pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this creek." + +"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we make a +spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice down at the +trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see it, and nail your +colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and must be respected." + +Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was detailed on +sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each trip he managed to +find some excuse to ride among the cattle. "What's the brand on my white +cow?" inquired Forrest, the object leading up to another peculiarity +in color. + +"I couldn't _read_ it," said Dell, airing his range parlance. + +"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" inquired the +wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue. + +"Not that I remember; why?" + +"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one color that +she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a white face, but +you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored face. That line is +drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never shoot a wild swan with +a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, or meet a pure white cow +with a black face. Hereafter, if any one attempts to send you on a +wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, tell them that no such animal ever +walked this earth." + +Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was sighted by +the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned themselves to random +conversation. + +"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you why you +picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a cow. Straw +laughed at you." + +"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more than any +other color." + +"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority for that +statement?" + +"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to Mr. +Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in defense of +his actions. + +"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you actually +know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the best brand +reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, as furnished by +Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I want the road and ranch +brand on the cripples, and the only or holding brand on the others. Now, +fool one another if you can. Ride through them slowly, and the one who +brings me a perfect list is my bully boy." + +The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several hours +were spent in copying brands. These included characters, figures, and +letters, and to read them with skill was largely a matter of practice. +Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this instance the amateur's list +would be compared with that of an experienced trail foreman, a neutral +judge from which there was no appeal. + +The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them read, +but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in reading +characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half dozen of the +latter in Straw's list, a _turkey track_ being the most difficult to +interpret, but when all characters were fully understood, Joel still had +four errors to Dell's three. The cripples were found to be correct in +each instance, and were exempt from further disturbance. Forrest now +insisted that to classify, by enumerating each grade, would assist in +locating the errors, which work would have to be postponed +until morning. + +The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. Forrest +regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of the Texans in +reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," said he, "we have +boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a novel. I know men who +can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, as they leave a corral, or +trail along, and not only classify them but also give you every brand +correctly. Now, that's the kind of cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, +and to-morrow morning you must get these brands accurate. What +was that?" + +Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded like a +shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant hail. + +"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the creek." + +"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in this +country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it up with a +Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest knoll. It's more +than likely some trail man hunting this camp." + +The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was some +fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching horse was +distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, and the prompt +hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is Quince Forrest here?" +he inquired, as his horse shied at the tent. + +"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice the +horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. "Come in +and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face." + +Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling at a +straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. Priest +wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted suicide--unfortunate in +love was the reason given--and I have orders to inquire into your health +or scatter flowers on your grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no +complications, I hope?" + +"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage. + +"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, and I rode +through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to eat, now would +be an awful nice time to mention it." + +Seay's wants were looked after. + +"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired Forrest, +resuming the conversation. + +"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both herds--live with +the lead one and occasionally go back and see my own. It all depends on +who feeds best." + +"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued Forrest. + +"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three o'clock +to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. My outfit acts +as rear-guard to Blocker's herd." + +These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each other in +months, and a fire of questions followed, and were answered. The +chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and field, led up to +the prospects for a northern demand for cattle. + +"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to a +question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will leave +Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man Don isn't +driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will pass Ogalalla +before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive going north of the +Platte will come next month. With the exception of scattering herds, the +first of August will end the drive." + +The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in the +tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in life. + +"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't tasted +meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. It's a good +range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year may be a little +tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for the necessary +staples, we can provision them until next spring. You must leave some +flour and salt and beans and the like." + +"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you ever +notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit gets +tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, and after +the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie chicken and fried +trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an elegant taste for dainties. +Nothing but good old beef ever makes them even think of home again. Yes, +my cook will give you his last bean, and make a presentation +speech gratis." + +Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had left +the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making crutches. +Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them out, and by +assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased into an old family +rocking-chair in the shade of the tent. + +"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some old +patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white cow +yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your uncle John +Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up as a reward to +complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you ready?" + +The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with the one +rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's regarding a +dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under the +classification the errors were easily located, and summoning the +visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation. + +"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's the +roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell and Joel's. +Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting the list perfect, +and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel differs on a +three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, get them straight, +because we're expecting to receive more cattle this evening. Pass on +these brands before you leave to meet your herd this afternoon. And +remember, there's a cow and calf at stake for whichever one of these +boys first gets the roll correct." + +After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The cattle were +lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding within a rod, thus +rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell led the way to the dun +cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, the boy called for his list +in possession of the man. "Let me take my roll a minute," said he, "and +I'll make the correction. It isn't a four bar four, it's four equals +four; there's two bars instead of one. The cow and calf is mine. That +gives me three." + +The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been fairly +earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's errors were +easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the mere failure to +note the lines of difference between the figure eight and the letter S +had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay amused himself by pointing +out different animals and calling for their brands, and an envious +rivalry resulted between the brothers, in their ability to read +range script. + +"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode homeward, "are +gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever forgotten. Twenty +years hence, you boys will remember all these brands. One man can read +brands at twice the distance of another, and I have seen many who could +distinguish cattle from horses, with the naked eye, at a distance of +three miles. When a man learns to know all there is about cattle, he +ought to be getting gray around the edges." + +Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice might trip +his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's nothing like having +studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, and it won him a cow and +calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. I wonder how he is on +driving mules." + +"I can drive them," came the prompt reply. + +"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the trail +crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything they give you +and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we begin laying in a +year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, followed by a late spring, +and there's nothing like having enough. Relieve them of all their dried +fruits, and make a strong talk for the staples of life. I may want to +winter here myself, and a cow camp should make provision for more or +less company." + +Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," said +he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of the +herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form." + +It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the trail +crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a quandary, +between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the passing herds, yet +a bond of obligation to the wounded man required his obedience. Forrest +had noticed the horse under saddle, the impatience of the boy, but +tactfully removed all uneasiness. + +"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare you this +afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, but we have so +much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you must get me four +poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and make a sunshade out +of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. Have the props ready, and +in the morning Seay will show you how to stretch a tarpaulin for a +sunshade. And then along towards evening, you must drift our little +bunch of cattle at least a mile up the creek. I'm expecting more this +evening, and until we learn the brands on this second contingent, they +must be kept separate. And then, since we've claimed it, we want to make +a showing of occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. +Within a month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and +be watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it." + +Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the arbor, were +cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at hand. When the +cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday rest, the impatient +lad was allowed to graze them around the bend of the creek. There was +hardly enough work to keep an active boy employed, and a social hour +ensued. "Things are coming our way," said Forrest. "This man Seay will +just about rob Blocker's outfit. When it comes to making a poor mouth, +that boy Dorg is in a class by himself. Dell will just about have a +wagon load. You boys will have to sleep in the tent hereafter." + +It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to the +carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in the +staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and beans, while +a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots which, after a +wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were among the assets. It +was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a free discard of two trail +outfits, all of which found an acceptable lodgment at the new ranch. + +"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. Blocker's +foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He says that when +he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only put on the little +and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's such a funny fellow. He +made me try on those boots, and when he saw they would fit, he ordered +their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to give them to me or he would fight +him at sunrise." + +"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. "Well, +that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new country. This +ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my crutch for a wand, +and everything we need seems to just bob up out of the plain. Cattle +coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming to supper, in fact, +everything coming our way. Dell, get up a banquet--who cares +for expense!" + +It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed above the +homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, the cripples +had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the next morning. With +the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to reach the opening, and by +clinging to the tent-pole, waved a welcome to the approaching trail men. + +Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted his +host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what kind of a +dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the square, there goes +my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the gift carries the +compliments of my employer, Captain John. That red-headed boy delivered +my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out that I'm somebody that's come +a long way, and that you're tickled to death to see me, and order the +fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I won't even dismount." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A FALL OF CRUMBS + + +An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to overtake +their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully employed. The +cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the commissary stores +assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men had stretched the +sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state before his own +tent door. + +The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, they were a +mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. Occasionally a trail +foreman would provide his outfit with a milk cow before starting, or +gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly given his cow to the +hospital on the Beaver. + +A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the twilight +of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and only ceased near +the middle of the following forenoon. The creek filled to its banks, the +field and garden freshened in a day, and the new ranch threw off the +blight of summer drouth. + +"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst forth at +noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now that water is +sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will cool the weather and +freshen the grass, and every drover with herds on the trail will push +forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol the crossing on the Beaver, +as the rain will lay the dust for a week and rob us of our signal." + +The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was daily +detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a herd, if timing +its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could be sighted. On a +primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle trail, every benefit to +the herd was sought, and the freshened range and running water were a +welcome breeze to the drover's sail. + +The first week after the rain only three herds reached the Beaver. Each +foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, but the herds +were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for delivery on army +contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of owners. The usual +flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled and lame saddle stock, +and of useless commissary supplies, was missing, and only the well +wishes of the wayfaring were left to hearten man and boy at the +new ranch. + +The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's herds +passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased to one +hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, while the +commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load being necessary +to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In all, during the week, +fifteen herds passed, only three of which refused the invitation to +call, while one was merely drifting along in search of a range to take +up and locate with a herd of cattle. Its owners, new men in the +occupation, were scouting wide, and when one of them discovered +Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his delight was unbounded, as the +range met every requirement for establishing a ranch. + +The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the source of +the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he rode down the +creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend of the Beaver, was +surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing the value of the range, +Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the first contingent of strays up +the creek, farther and farther, until they were then ranging within a +mile of the grove. The newcomer could hardly control his chagrin, and +as he rode along, scarcely a mile was passed but more cattle were +encountered, and finally the tent and homestead loomed in sight. + +"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the stranger, +as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a homestead, I suppose?" + +Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the latter; +"this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from the trail +crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the trail with +cattle, I reckon?" + +"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the man. +"I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine grove of +timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, we'll move in +within a few days and take possession." + +"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely inquired +Forrest. + +"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have escaped +from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll have them all +rounded up and pushed down the creek." + +Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the arbor and +took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was a picture of +contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, and qualifying his +remarks with rare irony. + +"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and stay for +dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, come to some +friendly understanding." + +"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and will be +anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we don't care to +locate any farther north." + +"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your cattle. You +seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the wounded man. + +"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty of +unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to graze +five thousand cattle." + +"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the Beaver, will +carry ten thousand head the year round," replied Forrest, languidly +indifferent. + +"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer. + +Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You have the +name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some time ago, and +those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. Before you round up +any cattle and drive them out, you had better look into the situation +thoroughly. You surely know and respect range customs." + +"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to hold the +whole country with a handful of cattle." + +"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as fast as +possible," politely replied Forrest. + +"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," authoritatively +asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a thousand cows, and +I've decided on that hackberry grove as headquarters." + +"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like tones. +"Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. Their range +runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the headwaters of +Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you can't stay for dinner, +you'll have time to ride down to the crossing of the Texas and Montana +trail on this creek. There you'll find the posted notice, so that he who +runs may read, that Wells Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll +furnish you a pencil and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the +formal notice and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong +enough to outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. +I've met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet." + +The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see the object +in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a legal question," +said he, mounting. + +"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase of a +herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of beginners +like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance of range is a +good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and sheet of paper." + +"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining away. "I +suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without halting. + +"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," shouted +the crippled Texan. + +Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. The boy +had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession of a range, +and now the envy of others had threatened his interests. + +"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is like a +page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: that you +took your range in good time, and that it has a value. This very +afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to those springs +above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample around the water and +noon in the shade of the motte. That's possession, and possession is +nine points, and the other fellow can have the tenth. If any one wants +to dispute your rights or encroach on them, I'll mount a horse and go to +the trail for help. The Texans are the boys to insist on range customs +being respected. It's time I was riding a little, anyhow." + +Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds due to +reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of the foremen +around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if you want to see +him, you had better come down to the crossing. He knows you, and makes +out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come down, he'll give you a +quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's one of Jess +Pressnell's bosses." + +"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the horses +and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a scaffold to get +me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, because hereafter we +must almost live on horseback." + +The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, returned +to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the Beaver, in +order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its living springs. The +plains of the West were a lawless country, and if its pioneers would not +respect its age-old pastoral customs, then the consequences must be +met or borne. + +Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds were +coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed from the +homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return for a week, +foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and never failing to +levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on cattle, horses, and +needful supplies. As many as five and six herds arrived in a single day, +none of which were allowed to pass without an appeal: if strangers, in +behalf of a hospital; if among friends, the simple facts were +sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with bunches of cattle, or +freighting the caches to the homestead, while Joel received the +different contingents and scouted the threatened range. + +Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell fell +heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a trail +outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, affording each +of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud against the range +lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the Beaver, and Forrest took +particular pains to inform its owners of the whereabouts of unclaimed +range the year before. Evidently the embryo cowmen had taken heed and +inquired into range customs, and were accordingly profuse with +disclaimers of any wrong intent. + +The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of the +Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the trailing of +cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand head having +crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the boys an insight +into pastoral life, brought them in close contact with the men of the +open, drove false ideas from their immature minds, and assisted in the +laying of those early foundations on which their future manhood +must rest. + +Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest slept +with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the best water. +The fact that only experienced men were employed on the trail made the +red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, while the wide +acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad every courtesy of +camp and road. Dell soon learned that the position of point man usually +fell to a veteran of the range, and one whose acquaintance was worthy of +cultivation, both in the saddle and around the camp-fire. + +"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one of their +trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to do, and nearly +always rides with one leg across his horse's neck." + +"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, you'll have +to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in the swing, and +after that you have a right to expect a place on the point. The trouble +is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two at any time. Here I've +been a foreman in other years, and this trip I was glad to make a hand. +There's so many slips, and we can't be all point men and bosses. Cooks +and horse wranglers are also useful men." + +The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared early +during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly healed, and he +was wondering if his employer would make a further claim on his +services during that summer, which was probable at the hands of a drover +with such extensive interests. He and Dell were still patrolling the +ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance from the railroad to the +south drove up to the crossing. It brought a telegram from Don Lovell, +requesting the presence of Forrest in Dodge City, and the messenger, a +liveryman from Buffalo, further assured him that transportation was +awaiting him at that station. There were no grounds on which to refuse +the summons, indefinite and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations +were immediately made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had +been secured during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all +returned to the homestead for the night. + +To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and now +that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was revealed. +As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment when their poverty +had protested at receiving him, his unselfishness in their behalf had +proven his friendship and gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was +not lost on the parentless waifs. + +On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. "Don't +worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and grass +grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've never done +any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out and see if you +lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that I've done any great +feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one of the laws of life, that +often we can do for others what we can't do for ourselves. That sounds +like preaching, but it isn't. Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I +didn't get you double the number of cattle. What we did skirmish +together was merely the flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from +the supper table, and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could +have had just a few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys +being poor and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was +good for a thousand strays and cripples!" + +The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine range. +Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the titles to many +of them were, had been secured and were occupying the valley. A round +dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, but which in time would +round into form, were added to the new ranch. Every passing commissary +had laughed at the chance to discard its plunder and useless staples, +and only the departure of the man behind the venture, standing in the +shadow as it were, threw a depression over the outlook. + +Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with Forrest. The +boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was only with tact and +diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest and embarrassment, was +forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said the departing man, "and it +may come handy with you. There's a long winter ahead, and the fight +ain't near won yet. The first year in starting a ranch is always the +hardest. But if you boys can only hold these cattle until grass comes +again, it's the making of you. You know the boy is father to the man, +and if you are true-blue seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to +the stock." + +Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the railroad +was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a hand, shaking +it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the general advice. "I'll +make Dodge in two days," said the departing guest, "and then I'll know +the meaning of this wire. It means something--that's sure. In the mean +time, sit square in your saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run +riot that you are cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. +That's all until you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. +Adios, seors." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + + +An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few herds +were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate to plead, +all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. Forrest had only +taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all fixtures contributed +for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, including the horses of +his employers. The lads were therefore left an abundance of mounts, all +cattle were drifted above the ranch, and plans for the future +considered. + +Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our saddle +horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after Forrest's +departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will make fodder, but +that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and I know where I can mow +a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have to stable a saddle horse +apiece this winter, and those mules will have to be fed. The grass has +greened up since the rain, and it will be no trick at all to make ten +to fifteen tons of hay. Help me grind the scythe, and we'll put in every +spare hour haying. While you ride around the cattle every morning, I +can mow." + +A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming West, +their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive methods prevailed +on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use a scythe in his haying +operations. Joel swung the blade like a veteran, scattering his swath to +cure in the sun, and with whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. +The raking into windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for +the brothers, no day passing but the cured store was added to, until +sufficient was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried +their mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals. + +"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said Dell, +on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five tons in it. +And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when I've worked so hard +and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan despises any work he can't do on +horseback. But just the same, they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. +Quince could live with us always. He's surely a good forager." + +The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two strangers rode +up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They were made welcome, +and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, in search of pasturage +for a herd of through cattle. There was an open frankness about the +wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of wrong intent, and the +brothers met their inquiries with equal candor. + +"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in kindly +greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the trail +crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless the market +improves, we must secure range for three thousand two-year-old steers. +Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow." + +The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new occupation. +The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the innate kindness of +the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As the evening wore on, +the old sense of dependence brought the lads in closer touch with the +strangers, the conversation running over the mutual field of range and +cattle matters. + +"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are leaving +your State for the upper country?" + +"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. "It's +the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests of our +State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, Texas +clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was limited, the +State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were congesting on our +ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. The subjection of the +Indian was followed by a sudden development of the West, the Texas and +Montana cattle trail opened, and the pastoral resources of our State +surprised the world. Last year we sent eight hundred thousand cattle +over the trail, and they were not missed at home. That's the reason I'm +your guest to-night; range has suddenly become valuable in Texas." + +"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of cattle," +added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding ground, but we +can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty years' experience has +proven that a northern climate is necessary to fatten and bring our +Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two winters in the North will insure a +gain of from three to four hundred pounds' extra weight more per head +than if allowed to reach maturity on their native heath. This gain +fully doubles the value of every hoof, and is a further motive why we +are your guests to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which +to mature our steer cattle." + +The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an asset of +value. Less than two months before, they were on the point of abandoning +their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining life, the stone which +the builders rejected, and now it promised a firm foundation to their +future hopes. The threatened encroachment of a few weeks previous, and +the causes of demand, as explained by their guests, threw a new light on +range values and made the boys doubly cautious. Was there a possible +tide in the primitive range, which taken at its flood would lead these +waifs to fortune? + +The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper valley of +the Beaver. + +"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be understood that +we respect your rights to this range. If we can reach some mutual +agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, but not by any form of +intrusion. We might pool our interests for a period of years, and the +rental would give you lads a good schooling. There are many advantages +that might accrue by pooling our cattle. At least, there is no harm in +looking over the range." + +"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. "None of +our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from there I can +nearly point out the limits of our ranch." + +"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, "but +only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with Mr. +Quince Forrest, now at Dodge." + +"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No one must +take any advantage of you boys." + +The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead the +different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel resumed his +mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses coming down the dim +road which his father used in going to Culbertson. A wagon followed, and +from its general outlines the boy recognized it to be a cow outfit, +heading for their improvements. Hastening homeward, he found Paul +Priest, the gray-haired foreman, who had passed northward nearly two +months before, sitting under the sunshade before the tent. + +"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!" + +No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys had +been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest filled every +want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't bother about getting +any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the creek, and we'll have a +little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in Dodge; old man Don told me he +needed him. Where's your brother?" + +"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted Joel. +"They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement reached must be +made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, you will do just as +well. They'll be in soon." + +"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired foreman. "I'm +jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm a silent partner +in this ranch. How many cattle have you?" + +"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves." + +"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The lazy +wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!" + +"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell and +myself." + +"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a rustler I +am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the wrangler and issue +directions in regard to camping. + +The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse between +Priest and his protg. For the time being a soldier's introduction +sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came in for a rough caress. "What +do you think of the range?" inquired the trail foreman, turning to the +men, and going direct to the subject. + +"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder cowman, +"and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer." + +"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a jerk of +his thumb toward Priest. + +"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. "My name +is Allen, and this is my son Hugh." + +"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don Lovell," +said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the Texans. + +"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the younger +man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our herd." + +"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his pockets +for a telegram. + +"Comanche." + +"And when did you leave Dodge?" + +"Just ten days ago." + +"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, handing the +older man a telegram. + +The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman continued: +"This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, and we delivered +it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North Platte. From there the main +contractor will trail the beef herd up to the Yellowstone. Old man Don +was present at the delivery, and when I got back to Ogalalla with the +oufit, that message was awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to +receive the cattle. They go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little +Missouri. It says three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, +don't it?" + +"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back." + +The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll have to +declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had several good +offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn of events. I had +figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of this range would +give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you on the eldest +attaining his majority. We could have pooled our cattle, and your +interests would have been carried free." + +"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an air of +interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've known some +mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the owl in their old +McGuffy spelling-book." + +A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a welcome +call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook has orders to +tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner." + +A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," said the +elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company to the +railroad." + +"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. "We're +making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we reach Dodge." + +"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the genial +Texan. + +"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have lived +around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that you simply +can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is the hour for +starting, and I'll overtake you before evening." + +The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having been +excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine condition, +four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the hour named, the +cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. "Angle across the plain +and enter the trail on the divide, between here and the Prairie Dog," +suggested Priest to his men. "We will want to touch here coming back, +and the wagon track will point the way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo." + +Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and means +committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, once the +sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts spirit and courage +into the firing line like knowing that the reserves are strong. It's +going to be no easy task to hold these cattle this winter, and now is +the time to bring up the ammunition and provision the camp. The army +can't march unless the mules are in condition, and you must be well +mounted to handle cattle. Ample provision for your saddle stock is the +first requirement." + +"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll have two +hundred shocks of fodder." + +"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for your +saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, cavalry is +useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers along its line, +coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll make inquiry +to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred bushels of corn +would make the forage reserves ample for the winter." + +"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't want to +take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy." + +"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now comes the +question of corrals and branding." + +"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping at +conclusions. + +"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a blizzard +struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty miles during a +night. These through Texas cattle have been known to drift five hundred +miles during the first winter. You must guard against a winter drift, +and the only way is to hold your cattle under herd. If you boys let +these cattle out of your hand, away from your control, they'll drift +south to the Indian reservations and be lost. You must hold them in +spite of storms, and you will need a big, roomy inclosure in which to +corral the herd at night." + +"There's the corn field," suggested Dell. + +"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect against +the north and west winds." + +"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a perfect +horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the north and +northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose five acres. Our +cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above the house." + +"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising. + +"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle of the +creek," promptly replied Joel. + +"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll have +time to look it over before leaving." + +While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel certain +alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of the addition +of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the necessary posts and +timber before my return, and when we pass north, my outfit will build +you a chute and brand your cattle the same day. Have the materials on +the ground, and I'll bring any needful hardware from the railroad." + +A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The sand-bar was +overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on horseback, but the +leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount through the tangle until +the bend was circled. "It's an ideal winter shelter," said Priest, +dismounting to step the entrance, as a preliminary measurement. "A +hundred and ten yards," he announced, a few minutes later, "coon-skin +measurement. You'll need twenty heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll +bring you a roll of wire. That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills +easily. Given a dry bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd +can laugh at any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing +niggardly about its proportions." + +"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the trio rode +homeward. + +"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw winter's +over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian summer. It might be +as late as the first of December, but it's a good idea to loose-herd +awhile; ride around them evening and morning, corral them and leave the +gates open, teach them to seek a dry, cosy bed, at least a month before +putting the cattle under close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, +and then they'll want to come home. You boys will just about have to +live with your little herd this winter." + +"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we can do it +again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can weather them." + +"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog case; +it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. Lost during +one storm, and your herd is lost for good." + +"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. "Mr. Quince +thought two stabled ones would do the winter herding." + +"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," replied the +cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you spare them. If you +must, miss your own dinner, but see that your horse gets his. Dismount +and strip the bridle off at every chance, and if you guard against +getting caught out in storms, one horse apiece is all you need." + +On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse in +waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit his +visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading his horse +from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and lend a hand in +shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have a herd of his own, +and in that case, there will be two outfits of men. More than likely, +we'll come through together." + +Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around as if +time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary is +provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a winter's +siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute is half +done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. Honest Injun, +I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you out; just to see what +kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if any one else offers to buy +an interest in this range," he called back, as a happy afterthought, +"just tell them that you have all the partners you need." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + + +The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a firing line +of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit and courage of +orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming winter. The elements +have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a conqueror, and an +invincible army has trailed its banners in the snow, unable to cope with +the rigors of the frost king. The lads bent anew to their tasks with a +cheerfulness which made work mere play, sweetening their frugal fare, +and bringing restful sleep. The tie which began in a mercenary agreement +had seemingly broken its bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human +love, a new covenant had been adopted. + +"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next morning, +"holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds them now +without herding." + +[Illustration: JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY] + +"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst possible +winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way to overcome +one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means by bringing up +the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to withstand a +winter siege." + +"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell. + +"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding around the +cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in Hackberry Grove. +Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut them while you're hauling +wood. Remember we must have the materials on the ground when Mr. Paul +returns, to build a corral and branding chute." + +Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. Within a +week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the further supply +of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily noted in its +advancing growth. + +Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was levied on, a +change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt a new impetus by +making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The fuel supply grew, not +to meet a winter's, but a year's requirements. Where strength was +essential, only the best of timber was chosen, and well within the time +limit the materials for corral and branding chute were at hand on the +ground. One task met and mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier. + +"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as the +last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew the plans, +we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, and it won't do +to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar rises in the stock. We +can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul returns." + +Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range to-day," he +announced the following morning. "From here to the ford doesn't matter, +but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We must learn the +location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever cuts us off from the +corrals, we must point the herd for some other port." + +"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell. + +"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through the +sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of dunes." + +That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at the new +ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away with the +rising sun, riding among and counting the different bunches of cattle +encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no details of the +conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up the creek, escape +their vigilance. + +The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed on their +chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the forks of the +Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south branch of the creek +was traced to its source among the sand dunes. If not inviting, the +section proved interesting, with its scraggy plum brush, its unnumbered +hills, and its many depressions, scalloped out of the sandy soil by the +action of winds. Coveys of wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken +took wing on every hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf +arose from a sunny siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed +the air in search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined +in their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and like a +flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother and whelps +skulked and were lost to sight in an instant. + +"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs appeared. +"The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and are still +following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and if this proves +a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our cattle before spring. We +may have more than storms to fight. There they go." + +"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither dog nor +gun." + +"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not bother +us while they can get food elsewhere." + +The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter refuge +to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for a short +gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once the open of +the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the brothers made a +wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite the homestead, near +the middle of the afternoon, they turned and rode directly for the +ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted them. + +Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance revealed +both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up to the stable +corral, in the rough reception which followed, the lads were fairly +dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. "Well, here we are +again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said Priest, once order +was restored. + +"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel. + +"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. About this +time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open with two herds, +each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. I'm coming with some +style this time. You simply can't keep a good man down." + +"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef ranch," +explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and came through +a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have the chute and +corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll lack is the +hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during the afternoon." + +The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the day. Every +old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by twilight the +outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The stable corral was +built out of heavy poles and posts, with a capacity of holding near one +hundred cattle, and by a very slight alteration it could be enlarged, +with branding conveniences added. + +At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys regarding +the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked the matter over +between themselves, and had decided that the simple truth concerning the +facts was the only course to adopt. The older of the two men, by the +consent of years, was delegated to instruct the lads, and when the +question of brands to be adopted by the new ranch was under +consideration, the chance presented itself. + +"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the boys, as +they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have to use two +brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by bill-of-sale. +In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is simply impossible to +keep strays out of moving herds. They come in at night, steal in while a +herd is passing through thickets, while it is watering, and they may not +be noticed for a month. Under all range customs, strays are recognized +as flotsam. Title is impossible, and the best claim is due to the range +that gives them sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the +increase of strays to the range on which they are found, and that will +entitle you to all calves born of stray mothers." + +The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For fear of +winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will run all these +strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be known as the +'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us an asylum for that +branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and owners of the range, all +increase will fall to Wells Brothers. However, in accepting this +deputyship, you do so with the understanding that the brand is merely a +tally-mark, and that in no way does it deprive the owner of coming +forward to prove and take possession of his property. This method +affords a refuge to all strays in your possession, and absolves you from +any evil intent. All other cattle coming under your control, with the +knowledge and consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee +simple, and we will run them into any brand you wish to adopt." + +"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating. + +"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. "The +weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way their +ancestors went. One generation exempts you." + +The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not mentioned +until the following morning. The forces were divided between the tasks, +and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the site of the new corral, +the disclosure was made known. + +"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. "Wolves +act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. Their activity +or presence will warn you of the approach of blizzards, and you want to +take the hint and keep your weather eye open. When other food becomes +scarce, they run in packs and will kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, +as yours will be either under herd or in a corral. Wolves always single +out an animal to attack; they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken +advantage of in their hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly +loves kidney suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, +they can be lured to their own destruction." + +The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. It +was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to a strong +post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together with stays, +admitting of a pliability which served a double purpose. By sinking an +extra post opposite each of the main ones, the flexibility of the gate +also admitted of making a perfect wing, aiding in the entrance or exit +of a herd. In fastening the gate in the centre short ropes were used, +and the wire web drawn taut to the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys +will find this short wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," +assured the old foreman. + +The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. Forrest +took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme upper limits of +the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and turned homeward. The +cattle ranged within a mile or two on either side of the creek, and by +slowly closing in and drifting down the Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch +was brought into a compact herd. There was no hurry, as ample time must +be allowed for the arrival of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in +finishing and making ready the upper corral for its first reception of +cattle. There was a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, +as a surprise for the boys. + +As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch hours in +advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by Priest, and +fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of ropes attached to +the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to the scene of its use at +an easy canter. The stretching of the wire was less than an hour's work, +the slack being taken up by the wranglers, ever upholding Texas +methods, from the pommels of saddles, while Priest clinched the strands +with staples at the proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable +extension of the fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. +"Now, when the stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in +place with staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," +said one of the wranglers admiringly. + +It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after counting +the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel to graze the +herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a mile above, and +taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The trail herds had +purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the Beaver that night, and +were met by their respective foremen while watering for the day. In +receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of one-aged cattle, both foremen, +but more particularly Forrest, in the extra time at his command, had +levied on the flotsam of the herds from which his employer was buying, +until he had accumulated over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, +among a few friends and the few herds with which he came in contact, +scarcely half that number, and still the two contingents made a very +material increase to the new ranch. + +The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. Joel and +Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch stock, and +Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and late contingents as +the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of the boys on the point, +as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it was suddenly confronted by +another contingent, rounding a bend of the creek from the opposite +quarter. Priest had purposely detailed strange men, coached to the point +of blindness, in charge of the new addition, and when the two bunches +threatened to mix, every horseman present except the boys seemed blind +to the situation. + +Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," said +Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own boys to +point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches of cattle +mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!" + +"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," protested +Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and their cattle +walked into ours. Where were you?" + +"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his down on +the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot what we were +doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them now. We'll pen +them until morning." + +The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the strange men +assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the situation to the +crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the gray-haired foreman managed to +drop a word which lightened Dell's depression and cleared up the +supposed error. + +That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped together, +the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the outfits mingled +around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, old songs were sung, +the lusty chorus of which easily reached the night-herders, and was +answered back like a distant refrain. + +The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a wasted step. +Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the foremen and the +boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task before them. The chute +had been ironed and bolted the evening previous, and long before the +early rays of the sun flooded the valley of the Beaver, the first +contingent of cattle arrived from the upper corral. + +The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten grown +cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars fore and +aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail foremen, was quickly +over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen bunches, and before the +noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed under the running irons and +bore the new owner's brand or tally-mark. + +Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the limit of +travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing the railroad a +few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was the railroad depot for +settlers' supplies, and the boys were advised to file their order for +corn, and to advance a liberal payment to insure attention. All details +of the ranch seemed well in hand, the cattle were in good condition to +withstand a winter, and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from +age to youth, the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern +for the future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if +the reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible? + +The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On reaching a +divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse of the Beaver, +the cavalcade halted for a parting look. + +"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the hazy +valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the winter." + +"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as decisive as if +his own flesh and blood had been insulted. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + + +The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the +plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all +bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of +the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from +pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted +of the wormwood in advance of their years. Toys such as other lads +played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and +only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the +struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them. A happy +home they had never known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy +of remembrance was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the +mire of their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss +was realized. + +Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully discussed +the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive to +watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the boys to +battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, and on the +departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of the matter +at issue. + +"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, watching the +receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us several miles out +and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it will be my fault if +it does." + +Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified his gaze +at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful sufferings flashed +through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to tears, dimmed his eyes. He +had learned the lesson that poverty teaches, unaware that the storm +which rocks also roots the oak, but unable to make the comparison or +draw the inference between surrounding nature and himself. For an +instant the horsemen dipped from view, changing the scene, and a picture +rose up, a vision of the future, of independence, of a day when he would +take his place as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its +bridges burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if +encouraged by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley +of the Beaver. + +"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously answering +his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last divide. "Hold +them. I can hold them alone." + +"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his brother +into the tent. "We have provisions for a year." + +"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost hissing the +words--words which became a slogan afterward. + +The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition mixed +and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with its +abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first four +horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at least for the +present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen horses, fully half of +which were fit for saddle, were at the service of the ranch, ample in +number in proportion to the cattle secured. + +It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over two +months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. With no +work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling farther to the west +and south, until any country liable to catch a winter drift became +familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of every drover had ceased, +and the active trail of a month before had been deserted. The new ranch +had no neighbors, the nearest habitation was on the railroad to the +south, and the utter loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active +work. To those who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in +their daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal by +flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, the +cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman. + +The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a welcome +task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance to the saddle +horses, an important feature in withstanding the coming winter siege. An +ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry weather curing the buffalo grass +on the divides, until it was the equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle +of ample grazing until spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl +of snow, a single angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid +Indian summer. Its coming warned the lads; the order for corn was +placed; once a week the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the +ranch was made snug against the wintry months. + +The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree to +deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and an equal +number of round trips would be required to freight the grain from the +railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and sacked at elevator +points, eastward in the State, and in encouraging emigration the +railroad was glad to supply the grain at cost and freightage. + +The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a deposit, and +identification was necessary with the agent. On the very first trip to +Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a surprise awaited the earnest +boy. As if he were a citizen of the hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, +Paul Priest greeted Joel on his arrival. The old foreman had secretly +left a horse with the railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail +crossed, had kept in touch with the delivery of corn at stations +westward, and had timed his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit +to his protges. + +"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or accident," +said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get damaged, slippery +ground might prevent the placing of a battery at an opportune moment, +or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a courier with an important +order. I feel an interest in your little ranch, and when I know that +everything is done that can be done to fortify against the coming +winter, I'll go home feeling better. There is such a thing as killing +the spirit of a soldier, and if I were to let you boys try and fail, it +would affect your courage to face the future. That's the reason I've +dropped off to take a last look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got +to hold those cattle." + +"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, we're +going to hold the herd," simply said the boy. + +There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad that +pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters on the +range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the worst. But +come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the best fight in us, +and fail, then we are blameless. But with my experience, if I let you +fail, when you might have won, then I have done you an injury." + +That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline on which +their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of no shirking on +the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to a change of clean +saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully understood. The death of +a horse in which reliance rested, at an unfortunate moment, might mean +the loss of the herd, and a clean, warm blanket on a cold day was the +merciful forethought of a man for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen +blanket must be used on the Wells ranch. + +On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was necessary, +at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of its terrors by +the presence of a veteran of the open. Before leaving the depot, Priest +unearthed a number of bundles, "little things that might come in handy," +among which was a sack of salt and two empty oak barrels. The latter +provoked an inquiry from Joel, and an explanation was forced at +the moment. + +"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, and which +was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the boy's query +with a question. + +"A mottled beef, branded 7L?" + +"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding him?" + +"Dell and I thought it was an oversight." + +"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these barrels, +then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has undergone several +Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the governor's cellar won't +have any better corn beef this winter than the Wells ranch. Seven or +eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is an important item in the winter +intrenchments. In fact, it's an asset to any cow camp. There are so many +little things that may come in handy." + +The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a course +that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He had never +been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with a loaded wagon, +he angled away for the sand hills which formed the divide, sloping away +to the branches of the main creek. Noon found him on the south fork; +cattle were encountered near the juncture, and as he approached the +grove, a horseman rode out as if to dispute the passage of an intruder. +The old foreman noticed the boyish figure and delayed the meeting, +reining in to critically examine cattle which he had branded some three +months before. With diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the +wayfarer riding away on a tangent and veering back on his general +course, until Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted. + +"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have made +coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was spending the day +among the cattle." + +"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted Priest; +"that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does that 7L +steer range?" + +"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied the boy, +repeating and answering the question. + +"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman. + +The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour had +brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was overlooked on +the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and the hairy, shaggy, +winter coats of the cattle almost hid the brands, while three to six +months' rest on a perfect range was reflected in the splendid condition +of the general herd. + +"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't worry us," +said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand any +ordinary winter." + +"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range below the +ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. There's the +mottled steer." + +They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said he, +"that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. The adage +is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of intrenchment are +encouraging." + +The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the arrival +of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between the brothers, +the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, there were +sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy felting, flannels over +and under, as if the boys were being outfitted for a polar expedition. +"It may all come in handy," said a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on +sentinel duty ought to be made comfortable. In holding cattle this +winter, it's part of the intrenchments." + +A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel was +away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while those +left behind busied themselves in strengthening the commissary. The +barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding water, knives were +ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling out meat. Dell, on the +tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, wondering how this quiet man +would accomplish his ends, and unable to wholly restrain his curiosity. + +"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably marry young, +and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know how to cure corn +beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the lesson is yours. Watch +me closely." + +The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of the +afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of cattle, +including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down to the +desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to alertness, and when +the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy instinctively knew that a +moment of action was at hand. Without in the least alarming the other +cattle, the cast was made, the loop opened in mid-air, settled around +the horns, cut fast by a jerk of the rope, and the contest between man +and animal began. It was over in a moment. The shade of a willow was the +chosen spot, and as the cattle were freed, the steer turned, the +horseman taking one side of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping +several turns of the rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant +the big fellow quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and +the beef fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in +the shade of the willow. And it was so easily done. + +"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired Texan, +dismounting. "You may bring the knives." + +Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark the beef +was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to drain and +cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of animal heat passed +away, and before sunrise the meat was salted into barrels. Thereafter, +or until it was drained of every animal impurity, the beef was spread on +the platform nightly, the brine boiled and skimmed, until a perfect +pickle was secured. It was a matter of a week's concern, adding to the +commissary two barrels of prime corned beef, an item of no small value +in the line of sustenance. + +The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see what made +the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next morning; "it won't +open for me." + +Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a kite, or +the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval noose, "the same +principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The oval must have a heavy +side, which you get by letting the Hondo run almost halfway round the +loop, or double on one side. Then when you make your cast, the light +side will follow the heavy, and your loop will open. In other words, +what the feather is to the arrow, the light side is to the heavy, and if +you throw with force, the loop must open." + +It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to be a +fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which followed, in the +saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of practicing with a rope, +while the patient man called attention to several wrist movements which +lent assistance in forming a perfect loop. The slightest success was +repeated to perfection; unceasing devotion to a task masters it, and +before the visit ended, the perfect oval poised in the air and the rope +seemingly obeyed the hand of Dell Wells. + +"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle business," +said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. Keep them up +your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own personal use. +These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. When I make up an +outfit for the trail, I never insist on any special attainments. Just so +he's good natured, and no danger of a rainy night dampening the twinkle +in his eye, that's the boy for me. Then if he can think a little, act +quick, clear, and to the point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a +cow in a month." + +In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of annoyance +from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of suet in the +beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, and a full gallon +of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its needs. While Joel was +away after the last load of corn, several dozen wooden holders were +prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk to the depth of five or six +inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, and the troughs charred and +smoked of every trace of human scent. + +That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind that +a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your cunning +against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're dealing with a +crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, surrounding the bait, +every trace of human scent must be avoided. For that reason, you must +handle the holder with a spear or hay fork, and if you have occasion to +dismount, to refill a trough, carry a board to alight on, remembering to +lower and take it up by rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent +of a horse arouses no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it +allays distrust." + +In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned suet. +"After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, illustrating the +process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. An overdose acts as an +emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that reason, you must pack the tallow +in the auger hole, filling from a half to two thirds full. Force Mr. +Wolf to lick it out, administer the poison slowly, and you are sure of +his scalp. You will notice I have bored the hole in solid wood, to +prevent gnawing, and you must pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, +as a crafty wolf will roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. +Keep your holders out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the +loading tools before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves +that may molest your cattle." + +The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. After +the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed every +possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be foreseen, the +only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and barring the burning of +the range from unseen sources, the new ranch stood prepared to withstand +a winter siege. Everything to forefend against a day of stress or trial +had been done, even to instilling courage into youthful hearts. + +"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the practical +man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an unexpected storm. If +a change of weather threatens, point your herd to meet it, and then if +you are caught out, you will have the storm in your back to drift the +cattle home. Shepherds practice that rule, and the same applies to +cattle under herd." + +All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back the +extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession of the +boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final summary of +the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the table, the trail +foreman seemingly reluctant to leave. + +"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying with his +coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping in the winter. +But the next few months you boys must reverse that rule. Not that you +need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your vigilance should never +sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the first and last thought of +the day, and then I'll get my beauty sleep this winter. The unforeseen +may happen; but I want you to remember that when storms howl the +loudest, your Mr. Quince and I will be right around the bend of the +creek, with our ear to the ground, the reserves, listening to the good +fight you boys are making. Of course you could call the reserves, but +you want the glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than show +the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the summer." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + + +The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the harbingers +of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the forthcoming siege. +Great flights of song and game birds, in their migration southward, lent +an accent as they twittered by or honked in mid-air, while scurrying +clouds and squally weather bore witness of approaching winter. + +The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was freed +for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three best +horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from the +railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal freedom must +be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term _close_ herding would +imply grazing the cattle on a section of land, while _loose_ herding +would mean four or five times that acreage. New routes must be taken +daily; the weather would govern the compactness and course of the herd, +while a radius of five miles from the corral was a liberal range. + +The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. Cold was +to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry atmosphere, +there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually the forerunner +of a storm, the approach of which gave little warning, requiring a +sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken unaware or at a disadvantage. + +The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry bed, +and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary to enter +and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, it was a +matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing the herd to +spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as occasion required. In +handling, it was a decided advantage that the little nucleus had known +herd restraint, in trailing overland from Texas, and were obedient, at a +distance of fifty yards, to the slightest whistle or pressure of a +herdsman. Under favorable conditions, the cattle could be depended on to +graze until noon, when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle +homeward was timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The +duties of each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of +the old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task. + +"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said Dell, as +they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. "My horse +never wet a hair to-day." + +"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The first +of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow is only +the beginning of December." + +"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas." + +"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle this +winter. Sit straight in your saddle." + +A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early and +late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each day was +taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it was a daily +occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral and see that all +was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on the part of the boys, +either by whistling or singing, was always given the cattle, and the +customary grunting of the herd answered for its own contentment. A +parting look was given the horses, their forage replenished, and every +comfort looked after to the satisfaction of their masters. By nature, +horses are distant and slow of any expression of friendship; but an +occasional lump of sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present +ration of grain, readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where +they nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders. + +The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the latter to a +prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's favorite, was a +veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under the saddle, restless, +with a knowledge of his work that bordered on the human. Dell favored +Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best point was a perfect rein, and +from experience in roping could halt from any gait on the space of a +blanket. The relay horse was named Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, +Spanish marked in a black stripe down his back, whose limbs were +triple-ringed above the knees, or where the body color merged with the +black of his legs. Their names had followed them from the trail, one of +which was due to color marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's +chestnut was easily traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering +into toes. + +The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was preceded by +an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south wind swept the +range, while at night a halo encircled the moon. + +"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys strolled up to +the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. "There are three +stars inside the circle around the moon. That's one of Granny +Metcalf's signs." + +"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old granny omens +may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold cattle. All +advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle horses and +little sleep." + +The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the bluff bank +which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on the contented +herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie of man and his +beast was accented anew in their youthful hearts. + +"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing down on +the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race in an age so +remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the pyramids of Egypt +were being built, ours was then an ancient occupation. I love to hear +Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!" + +The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to the +westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, each +apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually unerring, and +the boys readily recalled the statement of the old trail foreman, that +the howling of wolves was an omen of a forthcoming storm. + +"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll meet it. +Our course to-morrow will be northwest." + +It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following afternoon, +a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a leaden horizon on +the west and north. The next breeze carried the icy breath of the +northwest, and the cattle turned as a single animal. The alert horsemen +acted on the instant, and began throwing the cattle into a compact herd. +At the time they were fully three miles from the corral, and when less +than halfway home, the storm broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow +accompanied the gale, blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad +held a point of the herd and the raging elements could be depended on to +bring up the rear. + +It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came had been +anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its wrath, dropped +into the valley just above the corral, where the boys doubled on the +outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate turned the wandering herd +into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by the storm, instinctively +followed the leaders, and the gates were closed and roped securely. + +It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. We +corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter drift +means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of to-day's +storm. We must hold nearer the corral." + +The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their horses, safely +reached the stable. A howling night followed; the wind banked the snow +against every obstacle, or filled the depressions, even sifting through +every crack and crevice in the dug-out. The boys and their mounts were +snug within sod walls, the cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, +and the storm wailed its dirges unheeded. + +Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger and +sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily responded +to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, wind-swept of +snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample grazing for the day. +The first storm of the winter had been met, and its one clear lesson +lent a dread to any possible successors. The herd in the grip of a +storm, cut off from the corral, had a new meaning to the embryo cowmen. +The best advice is mere theory until applied, and experience in the +practical things of life is not transferable. + +The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until Christmas +day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that occasion, +expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for the culinary +task, and only requiring his services on corraling the herd at evening. +The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, knew their bed and +water, and on the homeward circle all that was required was to direct +and time the grazing herd. The occasion had been looked forward to, +partly because it was their very own, their first Christmas spread, and +partly on account of some delicacies that their sponsor had forced on +Dell on parting at the railroad, in anticipation of the day. The bounds +of the supper approached a banquet, and the question of appetites to +grace the occasion was settled. + +The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but the +weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on a +northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the time at +which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the sun and dropped +like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds appeared, and before +the herd could be thrown together and started, a hazy, leaden sky shot +up, almost due west, heralding the quarter of the coming storm. The herd +sensed the danger and responded to the efforts of the horsemen; but +before a mile had been covered, it was enveloped in swirling snow and +veering its march with the course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded +the boys as to their direction; they supposed they were pointing the +cattle into the valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on +the onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the corral, +conjecture as to their location became rife. From the moment the storm +struck, both boys had bent every energy to point the herd into the +valley, but when neither slope nor creek was encountered, the fact +asserted itself that they were adrift and at the mercy of the elements. + +"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!" + +"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. "The +creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these leaders into +the valley." + +The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of horses +merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent forged to the +front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. Again and again the +boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of horses, but each effort +was futile, as new leaders stepped into the track of the displaced ones, +and the course of the herd was sullenly maintained. + +The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a crisis +like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing line needed +heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, a rod or two was +the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not trust each other out of +sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet amid all Joel Wells remained +in possession of a stanch heart and an unbewildered mind. "The creek's +to our right," was his battle cry. "Come on; let's turn these lead +cattle once more." + +Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on record, but +at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware that the cattle +were descending a slope--the welcome, southern slope of the Beaver +valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, but the shelter of the +hillside admitted of veering the herd on its course, until the valley +was reached. No knowledge of their location was possible, and all the +brothers could do was to cross to the opposite point, and direct the +herd against the leeward bank of the creek. Every landmark was lost, +with the herd drifting at will. + +The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse neighed, +was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two turned a few rods +aside and halted at their stable door. Even then the boys could scarcely +identify their home quarters, so enveloped was the dug-out in +swirling snow. + +"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no halting +these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the left. Come on; +we must try and hold the herd." + +The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, when the +boys resumed their positions on the point and front. Allowing the cattle +to move, assured a compact herd, as on every attempt to halt or turn it, +the rear forged to the front and furnished new leaders, and in unity lay +a hope of holding the drifting cattle. + +The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. The +banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these meanderings of +the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the sheltering cut-bank that +he hoped to reach, where refuge might be secured against the raging +elements. It lay several miles below the homestead, and if the drifting +herd reached the bend before darkness, there was a fighting chance to +halt the cattle in a protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than +the one in which the corral was built, and if a successful entrance +could only be effected--but that was the point. + +"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during a lull, +"and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd on a direct +angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers to the north, it +will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to shelter the cattle this +side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that entrance, or abandon the herd, +and run the chance of overtaking it." + +"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day we +branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute." + +"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail men." + +"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they don't +know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. Remember that +story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing himself across a +gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump over him? You could do +that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me rush them." + +It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The meanderings of the +creek were not even recognizable, and only an occasional willow could be +identified, indicating the location of the present drift. Occasionally +the storm thickened or lulled, rendering it impossible to measure the +passing time, and the dread of nightfall was intensified. Under such +stress, the human mind becomes intensely alert, and every word of +warning, every line of advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came +back in their hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress +parade, with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of +their own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand waved +lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground. + +A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near the +entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving the cattle +from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the cripples. The tree +grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon trail passed under it, +making it a favorite halting place when freighting in supplies. Dell +remembered its shade, and taking the lead, groped forward in search of +the silent sentinel which stood guard at the gateway of the cove. It was +their one hope, and by zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a +road, the entrance to the nook might be identified. + +The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle sheltered +in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the density of the +herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, southern bred and +unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their heads to the knee, +indicating, with the closing day, a falling temperature. Suddenly, and +as clear as the crack of a rifle, the voice of Dell Wells was heard in +the lead:-- + +"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is won or +lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come quick!" + +The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the day. +Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry wolves at +the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into the eye of the +storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill the drifting herd, +new leaders forged to the front and threatened to carry the drift past +the entrance to the pocket. The critical moment had arrived. +Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell rushed on the volunteer +leaders, batting them over the heads, until they whirled into the +angling column, awakened from their stupor and panic-stricken from the +assault of a boy, who attacked with the ferocity of a fiend, hissing +like an adder or crying in the eerie shrill of a hyena in the same +breath. It worked like a charm! Its secret lay in the mastery of the +human over all things created. Elated by his success, Dell stripped his +coat, and with a harmless weapon in each hand, assaulted every +contingent of new leaders, striking right and left, throwing his weight +against their bodies, and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them +into obedience. + +Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in line, +and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the bend was +reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his stable, and no +sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering nook, than their +voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back through the column for the +first time since the storm struck. Turning to the support of Dell, the +older boy lent his assistance, forcing the angle, until the drag end of +the column had passed into the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and +to Dell's courage, in the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human +is so wondrously constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one +of these brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring of +one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and strength, +and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to the +contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, and by +merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied onrush of three +thousand beeves. + +Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth across +the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an endless +merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, lowing for mates +and cronies, while above howled the elements with unrelenting fury. + +"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for the +night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if we +could start a fire." + +"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some wood," +said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail of the +cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire was soon +crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was found below +the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire threw its shadows +over the nook. + +A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The sentinel beat +was paced in watches between the boys, the width of the gateway being +about two hundred yards. There was no abatement of the storm, and it was +hours before all the cattle bedded down. The welfare of the horses was +the main concern, and the possibility of reaching home before morning +was freely discussed. The instinct of the horses could be relied on to +find the way to their stable, but return would be impossible before +daybreak. The brothers were so elated over holding the cattle that any +personal hardship was endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the +elements was noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse +and rode out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning +announced that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach +home was safe. + +Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to sleep out +the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses were given free +rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid galloping home. The snow +crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted their protest at hindrance, +vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the riders to the marrow, but on +approaching the homestead the reins were shaken out and the horses +dashed up to the stable door. + +"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted. + +"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the star as he +swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our Christmas supper +in October." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GOOD FIGHTING + + +Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had freshened +horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the horses warmed to +the work, and covered the two miles to the bend before the sun even +streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle around the entrance to the +cove, in search of cattle tracks in the snow, and on finding that none +had offered to leave their shelter, joined his brother at the rekindled +fire under the cliff. The cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy +snow underneath having melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the +diversity of colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with +the surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like window +glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, sheening the +furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise inflicting no harm. + +The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the interim of +waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were able to get an +outline on the drift of the day previous. Both agreed that the herd was +fully five miles from the corral when the storm struck, and as it +dropped into the valley near the improvements (added to their present +location), it had drifted fully eight miles in something like +five hours. + +"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he hovered +over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be on the +Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for breakfast. +Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect day, and within +thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all easy to figure out in +advance, but storms don't come by programme. The only way to hold cattle +on these plains in the winter is to put your trust in corn-fed saddle +horses, and do your sleeping in the summer." + +"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell. + +"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days and +never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at night to +figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them up the divide." + +The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the cattle +preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around in bunches +until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent them forth. In +spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the divides and +wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle fell to feeding +so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, and a dinner for boy +and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the valley the snow lay in +drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides and southern slopes, they +were grazed to contentment and entered their own corral at the customary +hour for penning. Old axes had been left at hand, and the first cutting +of ice, to open the water for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an +hour, after which they rode home to a well-earned rest. + +Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as rainbows and +stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each morning, after which +the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a general thaw and warm +winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It was a welcome relief; the +cattle recovered rapidly, the horses proved their mettle, while the boys +came out more than victors. They were inuring rapidly to their new +occupation; every experience was an asset in meeting the next one, +while their general fibre was absorbing strength from the wintry trial +on the immutable plain. + +Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the evening of +the second day, a band of three made its appearance, keeping in the +distance, and following up the herd until it was corraled at the regular +hour. While opening the ice, the boys had turned their horses loose +among the cattle, and on leading them out of the corral, the trio of +prowlers had crept up within a hundred yards. With a yell, the boys +mounted and made a single dash at them, when the wolves turned, and in +their hurried departure fairly threw up a cloud of snow. + +"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, 'running like a +scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old Rowdy. + +"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, throwing +his mount back on his haunches in halting. + +"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll look +for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were beauties! +How I would like to have one of their hides for a foot-rug!" + +"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand hills," +said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger would make +them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all three!" + +Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his mind to +visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The wolves had +located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the boys were aware +of the presence of an enemy. + +A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. No +tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing weather +temporarily released the range from the present wintry grip. A fortnight +of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and frosty nights, ushering +in a general blizzard, which swept the plains from the British +possessions to the Rio Grande, and left death and desolation in its +pathway. Fortunately its harbingers threw its menace far in advance, +affording the brothers ample time to reach the corral, which they did at +a late evening hour. The day had been balmy and warm, the cattle came +in, gorged from a wide circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as +if instinctive of the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even +kicking up their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to +reach headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would +strike or pass away in blustering threats. + +It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a foot had +fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, howling as if +all the demons of night and storm were holding high carnival. Towards +morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, something unknown before, +and awoke the boys, shivering in their blankets. It was near their hour +for rising, and once a roaring fire warmed up the interior of the room, +Joel took a peep without, but closed the door with a shudder. + +"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. "This is +a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I doubt if we can +reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor cattle--" + +The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, well in +advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed the saddle +stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself against the elements +without, he announced himself as ready for the dash. It was less than a +dozen rods between shack and stable, and setting a tallow dip in the +window for a beacon, he threw open the door and sprang out. He possessed +a courage which had heretofore laughed at storms, but within a few +seconds after leaving the room, he burst open the door and fell on +the bed. + +"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a blanket over +my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll come around in a +little while." + +Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than inflamed eyes +and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made to succor the +horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing themselves together with +a long rope, and reached the stable in safety. On returning, Dell was +thrown several times by the buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, +following the rope, the dug-out was safely reached. + +"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once the +shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, lost my +bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes filled +with snow." + +[Illustration: DELL WELLS] + +There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was impossible to +succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach the corral, which +was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of the creek was known, and +by hugging the leeward bank some little protection would be afforded and +the stream would lead to the cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, +there was a noticeable abatement in the swirling snow, when the +horses were blanketed to the limit and an effort made to reach the +corral. By riding bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, +at least allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys +lost their course. + +The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the creek on a +direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or dismounting and +trampling them out until a pathway was made. Several times they were +able to make a short dash between known points, and by hugging the +sheltering bank of the creek, safely reached the corral. The cattle were +slowly milling about, not from any excitement, the exercise being merely +voluntary and affording warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, +the cattle crowding around each opening and drinking to their +contentment. An immense comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the +bend, in places thirty feet high and perpendicular, while in others it +concaved away into recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a +window. It was formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, +while the present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque background +to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of swan's-down. + +The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered the +herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the cattle, given +them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only food was lacking in +the present trial. After rendering every assistance possible, the boys +remained at the corral, hoping the sun would burst forth at evening, +only to meet disappointment, when their horses were given free rein and +carried them home in a short, sure dash. + +A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there was little +or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the cattle were taken +out and given every possible chance. The first noticeable abatement of +the storm was at evening of the third day, followed by a diminishing +fourth, when for the first time the herd was grazed to surfeiting. The +weather gradually faired off, the cattle were recovering their old form, +when a freak of winter occurred. A week from the night the blizzard +swept down from the north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising +thawing weather as a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came +with a heavy snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a +freezing night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and +hill and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice. + +It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The emergency +admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles as do horses +and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must come in the form +of human assistance. Even the horses were helpless, as the snow was too +deep under the sleet, and any attempt to trample out pathways would have +left the winter mounts bleeding and crippled. The emergency demanded +men, but two boys came to the front in a resourceful manner. In their +old home in Ohio, threshing flails were sometimes used, and within an +hour after daybreak Joel Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a +trail through the sleet to the corral. + +The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it with the +cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be broken out. +Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell at the task as if +it had been a threshing floor, and their flails rang out from contact +with the icy sleet. By the time they had reached the divide it was high +noon, and the boys were wearied by the morning task. The crusted snow +lay fully six inches deep on an average, and if sustenance was rendered +the cattle, whose hungry lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy +crust must be broken over the feeding grounds. + +It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few acres," said +Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the cattle. Point them up +the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and come on ahead of the herd. +If we can break out a hundred acres, even, the cattle can nose around +and get down to the grass. It's our one hope." + +The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking out the +shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the feeding +herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. Fortunately +the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary assistance could be +rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would bare the ground on +southern slopes and around broken places, affording ample grazing. The +flails rung until sunset, the sleet was shattered by acres, and the +cattle led home, if not sufficiently grazed, at least with +hunger stayed. + +An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered where +falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the corrals at +an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The cattle were +aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while outside the +inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf tracks. The herd, +already weakened by the severity of the winter, had been held under a +nervous strain for unknown hours, or until its assailants had departed +with the dawn. The pendulum had swung to an evil extreme; the sleet +afforded splendid footing to the wolves and denied the cattle their +daily food. + +"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up the +situation. + +"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a dose of +poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be placed near +running water--those were the orders. We've got five hundred cattle here +to succor first. Open the gates." + +The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The sun +scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were beaten +out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the afternoon +fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to feast to its +heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired out the cattle, and +it was with difficulty that they were prevented from lying down in +preference to grazing. On such occasions, the boys threw aside their +flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused the exhausted animals, +shifting them to better grazing and holding them on their feet. + +"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," said Joel, +as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something must be done. Rest +seems as needful as food. This is worse than any storm yet. Half of them +are lying down already. We must build a bonfire to-night. Wolves are +afraid of a fire." + +Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or having eaten +snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the herd was alarming, +not from want of food, but from the hungry prowlers of the night. Before +leaving, the brothers built a little fire outside the gate, as best they +could from the fuel at hand, expecting to return later and replenish the +wood supply from headquarters. + +The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses were fed +and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry logs, and +from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the corral opening. It +was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, and the light of the +bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy shadows on the combing +snow which formed the upper rim. The night was crimping cold, and at a +late hour the boys replenished the fire and returned home. But as they +dismounted at the stable, the hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down +the valley on the frosty air, and answered by a band far to the south in +the sand hills. + +"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for the +distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a distance +until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in for the night." + +Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, but on +every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the night was to +be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the remainder, +principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, fronting one of +the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On riding within the corral, +the dread of the excited cows proved to be a monster wolf, crouching on +a shelf of snow. He arose on his haunches and faced the horsemen, +revealing his fangs, while his breast was covered with tiny icicles, +caused by the driveling slaver during the night's run. His weight was +responsible for his present plight, he having ventured out on the +fragile comb of snow above, causing it to cave down; and in the +bewilderment of the moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on +which he then rested. + +It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and answers +passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was in hand, the +horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, and yet the boys +were powerless to make the kill. The situation was tantalizing. + +"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the moment. + +"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it." + +"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility. + +"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the risk of +a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't dismount +within twenty feet of him for this herd." + +"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which Mr. Paul +killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof." + +"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf go--we +can't make the kill." + +"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a roping +horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll lasso that +wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre gatepost and you +can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going to rope a wolf from +your back," added Dell, patting the horse's neck and turning back to the +gate. "Show me the mettle of the State that bred you." + +"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. Whatever +happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to a pinch. I'll +get a fence-stay." + +Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently practiced with a +rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and the danger of the +present moment surely admitted of no false calculations. Dell dismounted +with a splendid assurance, tightened the cinches, tied his rope good and +firm to the fork of the saddle tree, mounted, and announced himself as +ready. The cattle were drifted left and right, opening a lane across the +corral, and Dell rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a +position at the gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the +working out of the experiment. + +The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell rode +carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each time, +whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal arose in an +attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment had come, as the +horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, the singing noose shot +out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the next instant Dog-toe +whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a blur behind as he shot +across the corral. Only his rider had seen the noose fall true, the taut +rope bespoke its own burden, and there was no time to shout. For an +instant, Joel held his breath, only catching a swerve in the oncoming +horse, whose rider bore down on the centre post of the double gate, the +deviation of course being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The +horse flashed through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in +air, and a dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The +blur passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death. + +Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a foot's +length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle tree, and thus +saved horse and rider from an ugly fall. + +"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," said +Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do you want +his hide, or can I have it?" + +"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. I'll have +to sit up with you to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOLDING THE FORT + + +The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny slopes, +the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under cover of ice +and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for the time being and +closing over when not in use. + +The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the brothers was to +open more grazing ground, and to that end every energy was bent. The +range already opened lay to the north of the Beaver, and although double +the distance, an effort was made to break out a trail to the divide on +the south. The herd was turned up the lane for the day, and taking their +flails, the boys began an attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as +it was fully two miles to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected +by the sun before high noon. + +The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were brought +forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and assisting in +breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet in width on an +average, and by early noon the divide was reached. Several thousand +acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and depressions running +north and south across the watershed, new grazing grounds could be +added daily. + +A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been brought +along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the divide, the sun +had softened the crust until it would break under the weight of either +of the boys. By walking well outside the trail, the sleet crushed to the +extent of five or six feet, and by leading their horses, the pathway was +easily doubled in width. Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, +easing from the frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of +thawing weather. + +"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly freeze a +shoal, and I've found one below the corral." + +"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, "but we +must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment the cattle quit +drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is regular old +Billy Winter." + +"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the younger boy. +"Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water won't freeze." + +"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for to-night," +said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter for the present. + +On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the splendid +trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known shallow in the +creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, and forcing his +horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a riplet was unearthed +as it purled from under an earthen bank. + +"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins and +allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for yourself." + +Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, after +emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed under +another arch, its motion preventing freezing. + +"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the horses +break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. We'll build +another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits around this +open water." + +The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in home. +Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of the wooden +troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the basins were +handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and dropped from +horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure that the poison would +be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass and a scented trace was made +from every quarter, converging at the open water and tempting baits. + +"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't get a +wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done." + +"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, under the +comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking each other's +bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except poisoned suet." + +The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought in to +the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight of the +cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of wolves was at +once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the lads arrived in +time to save the life of a young steer. The animal had grazed beyond the +limits of the herd, unconscious of the presence of a lurking band of +wolves, until attacked by the hungry pack. Nothing but the energetic use +of his horns saved his life, as he dared not run for fear of being +dragged down, and could only stand and fight. + +The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the steer's +rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter of hoofs, +they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly forsook their +victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by easy count, as they +halted within two hundred yards and lay down, lolling their tongues as +if they expected to return and renew the attack. + +"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as the +brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!" + +"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it impossible to get +food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the cattle hereafter." + +"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said Dell. +"That's not a bad beginning." + +"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month longer, +some of these cattle will feed the wolves." + +There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was turned into +the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a distance, the wolves +followed, peeping over the divide as the herd turned down the pathway +leading to the corral. Fuel had been sledded up, and after attending to +the details of water and fire, the boys hurried home. + +The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of the +morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest change was +noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the blizzard, every +moderation of the temperature brought more snow or sleet. Unless a +general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any change in the weather +was undesirable. + +A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the boys +replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination covered the +limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of the poison for +the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary to the Beaver, +counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. Day was breaking, +the horses were already fed, and he was impatient for saddles and away. + +"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the stable. + +"One," answered Joel. + +"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight." + +"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your estimate. +Leave a few for luck." + +Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the chickens. +Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between house and +corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive brother, +together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed him--not a dead +wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. Some of the troughs +had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the auger holes, while the snow was littered with +wolf tracks. + +"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed the scene +and empty basins. + +Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for the number +of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the tallow. That's it; +there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste in each one's mouth. From +the looks of the ground, there might have been fifty wolves." + +The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The brothers awoke +to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and men the unforeseen +is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay down the general rule, +and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No one could foresee that the +grip of winter would concentrate and bring down on the little herd the +hungry, roving wolf packs. + +"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out more +running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make new ones, +and to-night we'll put out fifty baits." + +The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. Joel +took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows tributary +to the corral. Three more were found within easy distance, when the +troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and taken home to be refilled. +It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning and caution were his helpers; +slighting nothing, ever crafty on the side of safety, he cut, bored, and +charred new basins, to double the original number. After loading, for +fear of any human taint, he dipped the troughs in water and laid them in +the shade to freeze. A second trip with the sled was required to +transport the basins up to the corral, the day's work being barely +finished in time for him to assist in penning the herd. + +"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail. + +"Sixty odd." + +"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all the +afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards of the +cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty." + +"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to do +that until after the cattle were corraled." + +The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which would die +out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the cattle time to bed +down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was not the intention of the +boys to return, and as they mounted their horses to leave, all the +welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst forth. + +"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a gesture +which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and the feast is +ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or do you prefer the +scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, juicy kidney suet in the +ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, with fresh water right at hand. +Now, have pallets and enjoy yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, +and be merry, for to-morrow your pelts are mine." + +"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel. + +"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. "I'll +carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin peddler." + +"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished his +brother. "You're only entitled to one guess." + +"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered Dell with +emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy me." + +A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast was +forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as they +covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of expectation. +Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, on rounding a +curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost unhorsing his rider. + +"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll point them +out and you count. There's another! There's two more!" + +It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead wolves lay +around every open water. Some barely turned from the creek and fell, +others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly wandered away for +short distances. The poison had worked to a nicety; when the victims +were collected, by actual count they numbered twenty-eight. It was a +victory to justify shouting, but the gruesome sight awed the brothers +into silence. Hunger had driven the enemy to their own death, and the +triumph of the moment at least touched one sensitive heart. + +"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued voice, +after surveying the ravages of poison. + +"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're soldiering this +winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What would Mr. Paul say if +we let the wolves kill our cattle?" + +After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, leaving Dell +at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, revealing the fact +that every trace of the poisoned suet had been licked out of the +holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf became the slogan of the +present campaign. No mushy sentiment was admissible--the fighting was +not over, and the powder must be kept dry. The troughs were accordingly +sledded into the corral, where any taint from the cattle would further +disarm suspicion, and left for future use. + +The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a boy. +But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which Forrest, when a +cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of winter-killed cattle +with a team. The same principle applied in pelting a wolf, where by very +little aid of a knife, about the head and legs, a horse could do the +work of a dozen men. The corral fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, +Dog-toe could pull his own weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and +theory, when reduced to the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head +once bared, the carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a +gentle pull from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a +second pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady +mounting and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, +and with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry. + +Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs had +evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as there +was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or attitude. + +"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in Nebraska and +the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in explanation. "Rabbits and +other rodents are at home under this sleet, and what is there to live +on but stock? You have to hold the cattle under the closest possible +herd to avoid attack." + +"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly declared Dell. +"Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the wolves lick the bones of +their brethren to-night, and to-morrow I'll spread another banquet." + +The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall that +night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but every +additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until it appeared +an open question whether they would fall a prey to the wolves or succumb +to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed the local storm, during +which three head of cattle, cripples which had not fully recuperated, in +the daily march to the divides fell in the struggle for sustenance and +fed the wintry scavengers. It was a repetition of the age-old struggle +for existence--the clash between the forces of good and evil, with the +wolf in the ascendant. + +The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one wolves fell +in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, not an eye for +an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out looked like a +trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every trace of sentiment +for the enemy, in the wintry trial which followed, died out in the +hearts of the boys. + +Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves against +the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless vigilance and +sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by fire and poison, +alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle fall to feed the +wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to the struggling boys. + +A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One morning +near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the corral at an +early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a light kill of +wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they were attempting to +make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a wolf, supposed to be +poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, snapping left and right +before falling to the ground. Nothing but the agility of Rowdy saved +himself or rider, who was nearly unhorsed, from being maimed or killed +from the vicious, instant assault. + +The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to the +color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell shook +out his rope. + +"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a mad wolf, +or else it's dying." + +"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on his +flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just that +position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death." + +But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the victim, +and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and revealing +fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the wolf ran +aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck a strand of +wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw the animal flat, +when it again curled its head backward and lay quiet. + +"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it gets into +that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a live horse +under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's neck by a +hand-breadth." + +The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored approach. +Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as the rope +settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope was cautiously +wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, and whirling +Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane leading to the +herd's feeding ground to the south. The first quarter of a mile was an +indistinct blur, out of which a horse might be seen, then a boy, or a +wolf arose on wings and soared for an instant. Suddenly the horse +doubled back over the lane, and as his rider shot past Joel, a fire of +requests was vaguely heard, regarding "a noose that had settled foul," +of "a rope that was being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle +a wolf. + +Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened around the +wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a few effectual +snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. Shaking out a loop +in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the other trail, Rowdy +carried his rider within easy casting distance, the lasso hissed through +the air, settled true, when two cow-horses threw their weight against +each other, and the wolf's neck was broken as easily as a rotten thread. + +"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the safety of +his saddle. + +"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and kicked +the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, it was +thirty feet!" + +In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range cattle +history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal trial in the +lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three days, after the +worst blizzard in the history of the range industry, the siege was +lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her gladness. Sleet cracks ran +for miles, every pool in the creek threw off its icy gorge, and the +plain again smiled within her own limits. Had the brothers been thorough +plainsmen, they could have foretold the coming thaw, as three days +before its harbingers reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of +poison, but instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, +not to return the remainder of the winter. + +"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said Joel to +his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring down a wolf. + +"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost twelve +cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll play that game +all winter." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WINTER DRIFT + + +The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry siege. If it +could be weathered, victory would crown the first good fight of the +boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle and fortifying +against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot with the plains, +the occupation had almost forced itself on them, and having tasted the +spice of battle, they buckled on their armor and rode forth. Without +struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures of life lose their nectar. + +The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had gradually +weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the elements, and +steps must be taken to recuperate the herd. + +"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the thawing +weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. Unless the +wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again." + +Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen to the +creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the herd any +longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle winter-killed! Every +day during the last month I felt that another week of winter would take +half the herd. It was good fighting, and I feel like shouting." + +"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides that +weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them all the +range they need and only put them under close-herd at night. There may +be squally weather yet, but little danger of a general storm. After this +thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin their spring ploughing." + +A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost absolute +freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only thrown together +at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed entirely by day, a mile +square of dry slope was considered compact enough for the night. The +extra horses, which had ranged for the winter around Hackberry Grove, +were seen only occasionally and their condition noted. The winter had +haired them like llamas, the sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse +paws to the grass, and any concern for the outside saddle stock +was needless. + +The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious to +know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his brother +for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire. + +"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted yet. I'm +not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure first." + +"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the younger +boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from them at +Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell them that +we've won the fight. The spring's here." + +"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will keep, and +we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you remember the old +weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion and going out like a +lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had better keep an eye on it +for fear it goes out like a lion. You can go to the railroad in April." + +There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no response +in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and refused to +come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the shrub and +willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs of spring +carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet arise and roar +like a young lion. + +The one advantage of the passing days was the general improvement in the +herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the buffalo grass, which +grew on the slopes and divides, and with three weeks of fair weather and +full freedom the herd as a whole rounded into form, reflecting its +tenacity of life and the able handling of its owners. + +Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, along +the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck near the +middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and found the cattle +scattered to the limits of loose herding, but under the eyes of two +alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the task, circling the herd on +different sides, but before it could be thrown into mobile form and +pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl of soft snow enveloped horses +and riders, cattle and landscape. The herd turned its back to the storm, +and took up the steady, sullen march of a winter drift. Cut off from the +corral by fully five miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and +the brothers rode to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle. + +"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell. + +"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, "nothing short +of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the cattle. We're out until +this storm spends its force." + +"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and the +wolves are gone." + +"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, we'll +miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a question of +horseflesh." + +"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse and +overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the storm." + +"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these cattle +through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a spring squall." + +The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the cattle +turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the compass was +lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm would hold a true +course until its wrath was spent, and relying on that slender thread, +the boys attempted to veer the herd for the sand hills. By nature cattle +are none too gregarious, as only under fear will they flock compactly, +and the danger of splitting the herd into wandering contingents must be +avoided. On the march which lay before it, its compactness must be +maintained, and to turn half the herd into the sand dunes and let the +remainder wander adrift was out of the question. + +"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The cattle +are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be cutting them +to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead unless the swing cattle +will follow. It's better to drift until the storm breaks than to split +the herd into little bunches." + +"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the leaders +ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in line." + +An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly made. +But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut the cattle to +the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, the brothers chose +to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the sand hills. + +"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated efforts. "Turn +the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An hour of this wind +would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or die." + +"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," suggested +Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after a pack horse. +We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn this herd." + +The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily keep in +a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he reported the +drifting column less than a quarter mile in length. + +"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can barely hold +their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas drift, they +fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day they act like +lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet." + +The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for man and +horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver before +nightfall. + +"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut it +quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that Dog-toe +has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, until he +just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind and snow." + +"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one hundred +yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country looks alike. +Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above or below +headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you ought to +recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll take you +straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, some bread and +meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour before daybreak, and +you'll find me in the lead of the herd." + +The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in their +lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar that +sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was always the +hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle would gladly halt +and bed down, which promise lightened the passing time. The work was +easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of the leaders, that the rear +might easily follow, was the task of the night or until relieved. + +On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure in his +ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul weather, he had +barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver when darkness fell. The +horse was easily quartering the storm, but the pelting snow in the boy's +face led him to rein his mount from a true course, with the result that +several miles was ridden without reaching any recognizable landmark. A +ravine or dry wash was finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a +matter of precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and allowed +his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the eye of the +storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason was abandoned +and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the confident boy mounted +his horse and took up his former course, almost crossing the line of +storm on a right angle. A thousand visible forms, creatures of the night +and storm, took shape in the bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after +dismounting and mounting unknown times, he floundered across Beaver +Creek fully three miles below headquarters. + +The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to his +horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and champing the +bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a burning match revealed +the outlines of a road under the soft snow. The horse was given rein +again and took the road like a hound, finally sweeping under a tree, +when another halt was made. It was the hackberry at the mouth of the +cove, its broken twigs bespoke a fire which Dell had built, and yet the +mute witness tree and impatient horse were doubted. And not until +Dog-toe halted at the stable door was the boy convinced of his error. + +"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot more +than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled with me +like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if he'll forgive +me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable door. + +The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you shall +have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if you'll just +forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night will never be +forgotten." + +It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even though +the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its cost. Before +offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles that were to make up +the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm forward an hour, and sought +his blankets for a short rest. Several times the howling of the wind +awoke him, and unable to sleep out the night, he arose and built a fire. +The necessity of a pack saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting +a blanket, at the appointed hour before dawn he started, with three +days' rations for man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw +March wind blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he +reached the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the course +of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the mushy snow. A +bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo wallow; three +others were passed, feeding with the wind, and finally the sun burst +forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie Dog. + +Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, sustenance was +following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened in the snow, narrowed +and broadened, and near the middle of the forenoon the scattered herd +was sighted. The long yell of warning was answered only by a tiny +smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek bed, and before Joel was aware +of his presence, Dell rode up to the very bank under which the fire +was burning. + +"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do snowballs +taste for breakfast?" + +"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope this +is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any romance in it." + +The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of yourself," urged +Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How did you make out during +the night?" + +"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my medicine," +replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I sang. You have no +idea how good company cattle are. One big steer laid his ear in Rowdy's +flank to warm it. I took him by the horn any number of times and woke +him up; he was just staggering along asleep. I talked to all the lead +cattle, named them after boys we knew at school, and sometimes they +would look up when I called to them. And the queerest thing happened! +You remember old Redman, our teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last +night. There was a black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and +every time I looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, +his pug nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen +drift, to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me a +score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's face +and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black steer +dropped back and never came to the lead again." + +"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted by his +own experience. + +"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might get lost, +but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, and the cattle +were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I got my bearings, +Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the drift." + +A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, the +horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on the return. +During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the stragglers, and +towards evening all the cattle were put under loose herd and pointed +north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a comfortable camp was made +under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank +stalks of the wild sunflower made a good substitute for fuel, and night +settled over human and animal in the full enjoyment of every comfort. + +It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of pack +horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an easy berth +on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of the horse's body +girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and the corn and blankets +laid within the pack and all lashed securely. The commissary supplies +being light, saddle pockets and cantle strings were found sufficient for +their transportation. + +The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several miles +the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would require +nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, nothing like a +compact herd or driving was permissible, and the cattle were allowed to +feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed along the flank, the boys +walked as a relief, and near evening or on sighting the dunes, Dell took +the pack horse and rode for their shelter, to locate a night camp. The +herd never swerved from its course, and after sunset Joel rounded the +cattle into compact form and bedded them down for the night. A beacon +fire of plum brush led him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where +supper awaited the brothers. + +"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, "that +the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had to build +fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail men, could +we do it?" + +"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You seem to +forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. Be grateful. +Thank the wolf and go to sleep." + +"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I wish Mr. +Paul could see it." + +"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many rousing +fires." + +Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, the +sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all was quiet. + +"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell at +daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the first time +we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into three good +feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have the whole +hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of this camp, all +worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. So long as we hold +the cattle, who cares for expense." + +The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring day lent +its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the afternoon the +watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope clown to the Beaver +was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks turned in, the rear +pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd found expression in loud +and continued lowing. + +"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being killed," +observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after a pack horse, +these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure that we would lose a +hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof." + +"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I fully +expected to see our back track strung with dead animals." + +The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. Little +wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's experience, +failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, similar to the one +which provoked the observation of the brothers, may explain those placid +depths, the deep tenacity and latent power of the herd. + +After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive freighting +outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred oxen were +employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were encountered, the wagons +were loaded beyond the strength of the teams, and the oxen had arrived +at the fort exhausted, spiritless, and faint to falling under their +yokes. Many oxen had been abandoned as useless within one hundred miles +of the post, thus doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, +these scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the wagon +train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of all the oxen +were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. One day a boy +blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and charged among his +fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to powder! The loose oxen +broke from the herders, tore past the column of wagons, frenzied in +voice and action. The drivers lost control of their teams, bedlam +reigned, and the entire wagon train joined in the general stampede. +Wagons were overturned and reduced to kindling in a moment of the +wildest panic. The drivers were glad to escape with their lives and were +left at the rear. A cloud of dust merely marked the direction which the +oxen had taken. The teams, six to eight yoke each, wrenched their +chains, broke the bows, and joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, +still under yoke, were found the next day fifteen miles distant from the +scene of the incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a +month previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that the +spirit of their teams was killed. + +When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward and given +its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy gradually crept far to +the lead, and as the brothers left the cattle and bore off homeward, the +horse took up a gentle trot, maintaining his lead until the stable +was reached. + +"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. "That +horse knows more than some folks." + +"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his horse's +neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it myself some +day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of myself." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A WELCOME GUEST + + +The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was ushered in +to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the pollen on the +willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed underfoot, and the creek +purled and sang as it hastened along. The cattle played, calves were +born, while the horses, in shedding their winter coats, matted the +saddle blankets and threw off great tufts of hair where they rolled on +the ground. + +The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon returning +far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted Joel, on +coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price for a few +weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. The storekeeper +was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a hundred dollars on the +shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from two to two dollars and a +half. And I have a letter from Forrest. The long winter's over! You can +shout! G'long, mules!" + +During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. "Keep +busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water supply and +plan to acquire more cattle." + +"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams between here +and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, and he'll explain +things when he comes. Once a week will be often enough to ride around +the cattle." + +An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. The +garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired around +the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites for two +other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was ample to fill +large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for use during the dry +summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of the ranch could be +greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around headquarters had withstood +every drouth, owing to the shade of the willows overhead, the roots of +which matted and held the banks intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were +accordingly cut for the new dams and the work begun in earnest. + +"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced Joel. "It +would waste too much time to go and come. When we build the upper one, +we can work from home." + +The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built several +miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the creek, merely to +hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow cuttings were planted +along the borders and around the dams, the ends of which were riprapped +with stone, and a spillway cut to accommodate any overflow +during freshets. + +The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, and the +reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. The unusual +winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the ground, and the +grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, while the garden grew +like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year before had repaid well in +forage, and was again planted. In the face of another drouthy summer, +the brothers sowed as if they fully expected to reap. "Keep busy" was +the slogan of the springtime. + +The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. Nearly +one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the peltry had +commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers swaggered in their +saddles. But still the herds failed to come. + +"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were expecting +company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some of these +evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the lead of his herd. +Let's make out that we're looking for them." + +Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail man +appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of the second +week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen of them on +the trail." + +"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion. + +"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all swim. +Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon across +swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is nothing to +those trail men." + +Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of hail, +Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the two rolled +over and over on the grass. + +"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," explained +Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are my boys. Look +at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two mothers. Boys, shake +hands with Mr. Lovell." + +The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. He was +a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, with an energy +that pulsed in every word and action. There was a careworn expression in +his face, while an intensity of purpose blazed from hungry, deep-set +eyes which swept every detail of the scene at a glance. That he was +worried to the point of exhaustion was evident the moment that +compliments were exchanged. + +"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, if I am +correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from Dodge to the +Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the worst drouths in the +history of the trail confronts us, and if you can water my cattle +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River, you can name your +own price." + +"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the blackboard, +"before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. Lovell the water." + +All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the single +seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek were five +beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows interlapped. The +pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, the quartette turned +homeward, satisfied of the abundant water supply. + +"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest to his +employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of the sun +that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the pools until +the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver." + +"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--" + +"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in this +ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the asking. Am I +right, boys?" + +"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly replied +Joel. + +"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man Joel Wells +that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, these boys of +mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not out to rob a +neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking Water, you can +order the herds to pull out for the Platte." + +"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get the +water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a man his +price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm welcome to it for +nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts. Are +you three plotting against me?" + +"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe all right. +In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact that you have +five horses on this ranch. They were left here last fall, expecting to +pick them up this spring. Two of them were cripples and three were good +cow horses. Now, these boys of mine are just branching out into cattle, +and they don't need money, but a few good horses are better than gold. +That's about the plot. What would you say was the right thing to do?" + +Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But I'm still +in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?" + +The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds reach +here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a number of +tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it through +without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a fighting +chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent in an +abandoned steer for you, but these boys--" + +"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. "I'll give +all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are worthless to me, but +good as gold to these boys. What else?" + +"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, speak a +good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I think you'll +find them on the square." + +"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he alighted at +the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla will not exceed +five thousand dollars. It cost me double that getting out of Texas." + +Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside drouth, +which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the trail as in +other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the concentration of +a year's drive into a more limited space of time. Unconscious of its +value, the boys awoke to the fact that they controlled the only water +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River--sixty miles of the +plain. Many of the herds were under contract and bond to cattle +companies, individuals, army posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse +would be accepted for any failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an +ill-wind to some, but the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could +extend relief. + +After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest had +unearthed the winter struggle of his protgs, and gloating over the +manner in which the boys had met and overcome the unforeseen, he assumed +an observant attitude in addressing his employer. + +"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," said he, +"to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, here on the +Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of over five hundred +cattle. And you must recollect that these were rag-tag and bob-tail, the +flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per cent cripples, walking on +crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, under herd, a sleet over the +range for six weeks, against your ten per cent kill on an open range. +You must have a slatterly, sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch." + +Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle interests. +"That was a first report that you are quoting from," said he to Forrest. +"It was more prophecy than statement. We must make allowances for young +men. There is quite a difference between getting scared and being hurt. +My beef outfit has orders to go three hundred miles south of our range +and cover all round-ups northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift +was heavy, but I'm not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. +Promptly meeting government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are +two weeks behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. +Help me figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel. + +"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night." + +"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of these boys +can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound train. Wire your beef +herds to pull out for the Platte. You can trust the water to improve +from here north." + +"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman. + +"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That will cover +the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, and time our +drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud." + +"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get an +extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my bonds will +amount to a fortune." + +"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The government +don't expect the impossible." + +"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts a bond, +and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks the plank, +it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not how much sleep I +lose, red tape never worries." + +The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. "The +programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the latter. "The +horses will be ready at daybreak." + +It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part of the +brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the drover, and +a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every way. + +"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," said +Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman in a +thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's rather +deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him about the men +on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter kill when they +could drift, and the round-up will catch every living hoof. He was too +foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this long yell about the drouth +interfering with delivery dates keeps the trail outfits against the +bits. Admitting his figures, the water expense won't be a drop in the +bucket. It affords good worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting +form. I'm glad he came along; treat him fair and square, and his +friendship means something to you, boys." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN ILL WIND + + +The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the morning. Joel +accompanied the drover, the two best horses being under saddle, easily +capable of a road gait that would reach the railroad during the early +forenoon. The direct course lay across country, and once the sun flooded +the Beaver valley, the cowman swung around in the saddle and his +practical eye swept the range. On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken +country beyond, including the sand hills, he turned to his guide. + +"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future before you. +This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our horses' feet +carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have the range here for +thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy young steers; pay any +price; but get more cattle. The growth of young steers justifies any +outlay. Come down to Dodge about the first of August. This drouth is +liable to throw some bargains on that market. Be sure and come. I'll +keep an eye open in your interest on any cattle for sale." + +The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were not +entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of the +brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the team stood +in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of sight to the south +the buckboard started on its northern errand. Dell accompanied it, +protesting against his absence from home, but Forrest brushed aside +every objection. + +"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we may be +back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. Turn your +ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't halfway through our +figuring." + +Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the north, the +same day that Forrest and his employer started up the trail from the +south, and at the expected point the two foremen met. The report showed +water in abundance from the Republican River northward, confirming +Forrest's assertion to his employer, and completing the chain of waters +between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest returned with the buckboard, which +reached the Beaver after midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep. + +"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of Joel's bunk, +"that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good fighting. Yes, I +heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I was with you the night +you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all along the line, wasn't it +good fighting?" + +"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets. + +"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of the March +drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't trust poor old +Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down the creek here a few +miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the horse forgot more than he +himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. As long as a man hearkens to +his horse, there is no danger of bad counsel being thrust on him." + +The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the exacting +nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, and while +harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention to setting the +ranch in order to water the passing herds. + +"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas fever +among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd until +after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry Grove, and keep +a dead-line fully three miles wide between the wintered and through +trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, cripples or strays, hold +them down the creek--between here and the old trail crossing. For fear +of losing them you can't even keep milk cows around the ranch, so turn +out your calves. Don't ask me to explain Texas fever. It's one of the +mysteries of the trail. The very cattle that impart it after a winter in +the north catch the fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a +mild form, in through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or +northern wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The +sure, safe course is to fear and avoid it." + +The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in charge of +Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had ridden to the +Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a moment at parting. + +"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing ten +days to reach here--" + +He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, come out on +the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you will see a dust +cloud in the south. The long distance between waters will put the herd +through on schedule time. Come out and meet me." + +The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were over. The +herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised relief to the +drover and his cattle. + +"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is from one to +three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped from sight. "The +government, so he says, allows three cents for watering cavalry horses +and harness mules. He tells me that the new settlers, in control of the +water on the trail, in northern Texas, fairly robbed the drovers this +year. The pastoral Texan, he contends, shared his canteen with the +wayfarer, and never refused to water cattle. He wants us to pattern +after the Texans--to give our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell +raised the question of arranging to water his herds from our beaver +ponds, do you remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad +money wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses." + +"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said Joel, +"but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He says we +must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in August, and +I'm going." + +Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. "Any +one tell your fortune lately?" + +"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. One of +those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand here and +you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range had a value, +and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, and stock it. What +he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. Lovell sees now, you may +see a year hence. These men have proved their friendship, and why stand +in our own light? Our ability to hold cattle was tested last winter, and +if this range is an asset, there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm +going to Dodge in August." + +Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in order. +Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling in to +headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on the +general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to the +Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that the cattle +might reach the former river the following evening. The brothers knew to +a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the trailing pace, and could +anticipate to an hour the time required to move a herd from the Prairie +Dog to the Beaver. + +The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. The +dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between imaginary +landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a sentinel, stood a +lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt thou go and no +farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of condition, were brought +home and located below the ranch, and the house stood in order. + +The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach the +divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the Beaver, the +leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty cattle that had +scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the heavy beeves +identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point man, the +situation cleared. + +"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?" + +"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next swell +of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on. + +It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd snailed +forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety of color, +the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral picture of +strength and beauty. + +The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the opposite +side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, and while the +two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing lad on the left +reined out and saluted the boys. + +With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember the day +we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?" + +"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man across the +herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty greeting. + +"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the lad who +rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking hands. Turn your +horses the other way and tell me how you like it out West." + +Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves was fully +a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, the wagon and +remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman still at the rear. The +dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the distance, and while Joel +pondered on its location over the divide, a horseman emerged from a dip +in the plain and came toward him in a slow gallop. + +"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, slacking his +horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which swell was the real +divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch last summer, but the frost +has mellowed up the soil and the grass has overgrown the paths until +every trace is gone. I planted a guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's +Trail,' so the other foremen will know where to turn off. All the old +man's herds are within three or four days' drive, and after that it's +almost a solid column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of +the rear herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle." + +The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle stock, +but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been dropping +our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will bring them +through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going to saw off +three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, good for +next year." + +A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions given the +point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once man and boy had +fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was given and the cattle +turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. The wagon and remuda +never halted; on being joined by the two horsemen, they continued on +into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the hour named to water the herd, +and punctual to the moment the beeves, with a mile-wide front, were +grazed up to the creek. + +The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner was +over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in mimicking a +trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd was within +sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in below the ranch +for the noon camp. + +Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own men. +"Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out to-night. I may +not be with you, but water in the Republican at six o'clock to-morrow +evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he concluded, addressing +the segundo. + +The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to quench +thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the strong, and the +excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and thirsty. An hour is the +minimum time, during which half the herd may drink and lie down, +affording the others the chance to approach without fear and slake +their thirst. + +The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the water +were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, while the +others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. The previous +scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy beeves, equally +select with the vanguard, floundered into the pools, lowed in their joy, +drank to gorging, fought their fellows, staggered out of the creek, and +dropped to rest in the first dust or dry grass. + +Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, when he +and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, and sent the +second herd on its way. Each of the three advance herds must reach the +Republican the following day, and it was scant two o'clock when the +third one trailed out from the Beaver. With mature cattle there were +few cripples, and the day ended with an addition to the little ranch of +the promised horses and a few tender-footed beeves. There were two more +herds of heavy beef cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next +forenoon, and the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, +intended for army delivery, had passed the ranch. + +The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From that far +distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages the one has +ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds promptly reached the +Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, and passed on before noon. + +"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when the last +herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six herds of contract +cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of beeves, but Mr. Lovell +detailed him to oversee this next division across to the Platte. Forrest +will follow Quirk with the last five herds of young steers, slated for +the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. That puts our cattle +across the Beaver, but you'll have plenty of company for the next month. +Mr. Lovell has made a good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll +give these trail drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, +there are two things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, +and that the cows will calve in the spring." + +Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. Before +dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon and remuda, +and returned to the tent. + +"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping his +saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for water this +year that every foreman seems to think that unless he reaches the river +to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart was the limit agreed on +before leaving Dodge, and here I am with six herds--twenty thousand +cattle!--within twenty miles of the Beaver. For fear of a stampede last +night, we threw the herds left and right, two miles off the trail. The +Lord surely loves cattle or the earth would have shook from +running herds!" + +That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the Lovell +herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the boys with his +usual rough caress. + +"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through with the +two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and an extra man +to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and friends, will be +lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch while you're gone. One +of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, remember. I'll meet you +to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the cripples out and point them in to +the new tanks below. Shake out your fat horses, sweat them up a +little--you're needed at the rear of Lovell's main drive." + +The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear herds +reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to safe camps +beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef at +headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty where +the year before he lay wounded. + +The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The lead one +yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard disgorged a +few over one hundred head. The two contingents were thrown together, the +brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, where they were freed on a +perfect range. A count of the cripples and fagged cattle, culled back at +headquarters, brought the total discard of the sixteen herds up to two +hundred and forty-odd, a riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a +young steer to a seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the +reckoning. + +Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, had +reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was to be had +in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with interest, and +once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, Forrest and the +brothers rode around the pools to take soundings. + +"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss runs +from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the heaviest," said +Joel, summing up the situation. + +"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average of +five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the reason it's +standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the stars, but the +water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell those waiting +foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch will water every +trail herd, or break a tug trying." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WATER! WATER! + + +"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of trail +foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out better +than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a trifle. +From the present outlook, we can water the drive." + +"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" trail boss. +"I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw River at Dodge +was only running at night." + +"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," doggedly said +a pock-marked foreman. + +"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W man. "The +faraway hills are always green." + +The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the total +drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, addressing +the pock-marked foreman. + +"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty thousand +head," came the languid reply. + +"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to Joel. +"Better revise your water estimate." + +"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I may have +to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle." + +"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, arising. "My +cattle must have water this evening." + +The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we drop our +strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that Mr. Lovell +mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be abandoned." + +"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the little +man. + +"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear ones +have orders to bring through to you." + +"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our range, and +crippled cattle are as good as gold to us." + +Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys followed, and +Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on the drag end of +your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll get up a fresh horse +and overtake you." + +"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign your +petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm as good +as afoot." + +The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," said Joel +to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the lead herd, +come in on the water above the field. The upper pools are the deepest, +and let your cattle cover the water evenly." + +"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to come up +to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have suffered from +thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, if grazed up to it. +You may take one point and I'll take the other." + +The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. Among +the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. Wells Brothers +were being thrown in contact with the most practical men that the +occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The novelty of trailing +cattle vast distances had its origin with the Texans. Bred to the +calling, they were masters of the craft. In the hands of an adept outfit +of a dozen men, a trail herd of three thousand beeves had all the +mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The crack of a whip was unheard on the +trail. A whispered order, followed by a signal to the men, and the herd +turned, grazed to its contentment, fell into column formation, and took +up its march--a peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact +with these men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the boys. + +The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a mile of +the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel Wells. But +instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on into the lead, +the action being seemingly understood by every one except the new hand +on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive column of beeves yield to +his slightest pressure, as a ship to the hand of the helmsman, as he +veered the leaders out of the broken trails and guided the herd around +the field to the upper pools. On nearing the water, the deposed point +men deployed nearer the lead, when the object of their position +explained itself. On sighting the ponds, the leaders broke into a run, +but the four horsemen at hand checked the excited dash, and the herd was +led up to the water in column formation. It was the mastery of man over +the creature. + +The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The swarthy +little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an Indian agency +in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under contract to +different cattle companies, in adjoining states and territories. The +tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but the point of delivery +was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch outfit would receive +the cattle. + +The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven on +speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, and the +men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot. + +"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, "of +walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A mount of six +horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it won't do on the +trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on the Platte. Actually, +this afternoon is the first time I have felt a horse under me since we +crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of paper, please. I want to give you +a bill of sale for these six drag ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I +carry written authority to give a bill of sale, and it will always +protect your possession of the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a +head in Ogalalla, but when they round into form again next summer, some +brand ferret passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I +cull out here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned." + +The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. The rush +of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during their waking +hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting of cripples to the +new tanks below was pressing, and order must be established. The water +in the pools was the main concern, a thing beyond human control, and a +matter of constant watchfulness. A remark dropped during the day, of +water flowing at night, was not lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells. + +"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W foreman, +while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only running +at night?" + +"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by day," +replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of the plain, +including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the south, only flow at +night. It's their protection against the sun's absorption. Mark these +pools at sunset and see if they don't rise an inch to-night. Try it +and see." + +Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. The +extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was indulged +in and freely expressed. + +"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, sleepless in his +blankets, "it'll double our holding of cattle." + +"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got to stand +by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the Republican. +I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are gone, we'll round up +the wintered cattle, drift them over to the south fork of the +Republican, and get some one to hold them until frost falls. Then we'll +ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, and that will free the new +tanks--water enough for twenty trail herds. We have the horses, and +these trail outfits will lend us any help we need. By shifting cattle +around, I can see a month's supply. And there may be something in water +rising at night. We'll know in the morning." + +Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the trail +foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss knew," shouted +Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The water rose in every +pool. The lower one gained an inch and the upper one gained two. The +creek is running freely. The water must be rising out of the ground. Let +those Texans bring on their herds. We have oceans of water!" + +The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new ranch. It +took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared for, and a hand +was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag end. Open house was +maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered a horse, and left his +benediction on the Beaver. + +The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first foremen to +arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up at sunset, with +a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual easy manner +inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?" + +"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising the +situation. "One of your men hurt?" + +"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. "Just a +little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant water, out of +cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets into the bones of the +best of us. I'm not feeling very well myself." + +Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the poor +fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you and I +carry him?" + +"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him in," +answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel Wells?" + +"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and we'll +bring the sick man in at once." + +It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. The +unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, Straw had +skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules. + +"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after greeting +Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one of the +trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has to go back +to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify them for +the trip." + +The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued Straw, +"by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the best men that +ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him on his feet again. +Now, if one of you boys will take the team back to--" + +"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this hospital wants +done--We're running a relief station now--watering the entire drive this +year. Where's your outfit camped?" + +"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's empty. +Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in time for +breakfast." + +"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, is a +horse that's easy curried." + +The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time the sick +man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his cattle made +welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, Straw had lost his +place in the overland march, two herds having passed him and crossed +the Beaver. + +"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who arrived +together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter that'll rob you +right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the bill in advance. This +cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth three cents a head, and I'll +count you down to a toddling calf and your wagon mules. Your drafts are +refused honor at the Beaver banks--nothing but the long green passes +currency here. You varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage +of a widow woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me." + +"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of the +foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept with me? +How's the black cow I gave you last summer?" + +Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" said he, +recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. Sit down. +Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like lettuce?" + +"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the two +mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in smoke. You're +not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, ransack both our +wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some dainties for this sick +lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; he never has anything to eat; +Injuns won't go near his wagon." + +Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, make +yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and they're +our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when you get on +your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count on a job with +me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit is relieved. This +fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. I'll keep an eye over +you until you are well. S'long, Jack." + +The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. There +were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of advancing summer +the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources of the ponds were a +constant source of surprise, as an occasional heavy beef caved a foot +into an old beaver warren, which poured its contents into the pools. At +the end of the first fortnight, after watering fifty-eight herds, nearly +half the original quantity of water was still in reserve. + +A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the arrival of +herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water reserves suffered +freely, more from the sun's absorption than from cattle, until the +supply became a matter of the most serious concern. The pools would not +have averaged a foot in depth, the flow from the springs was a mere +trickle, the beaver burrows sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and +there must be some limit to the amount the parched soil would yield. + +The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the second +week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack Sargent, was +up and observant of the situation. True to his calling, he felt for the +cattle, and knew the importance of water on the Beaver to the +passing drive. + +"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the emergency. +"Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun an advantage. +It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You must deepen these +pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest these ponds a few days, or +only water late at night. You have water for weeks yet, but don't let +the sun rob you. These ponds are living springs compared to some of the +water we used south of Red River. Meet the herds on the divide, and +pilot the early ones to the tanks below, and the late ones in here. +Shifting in your saddle rests a horse, and a little shifting will save +your water." + +The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was installed as +host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their saddles. The majority +of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and after a consultation with +the foremen their cattle were started so as to reach the tanks by day or +the ranch at evening. The month rounded out with the arrival of eighteen +herds, only six of which touched at headquarters, and the fourth week +saw a distinct gain in the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys +barely touched at home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, +piloting in herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and +content with the crumbs that fell to their range. + +The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral history of the +West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana cattle trail was marked +by the bones of forty thousand cattle that fell, due to the want of +water, during the months of travail on that long march. Some of this +loss was due to man's inhumanity to the cattle of the fields, in +withholding water, but no such charge rested on the owners of the little +ranch on the Beaver. + +A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's drive. +Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had strength in +reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. The +fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which touched at the ranch; +half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had neither a cripple nor a +stray to bestow, but shared the welcome water and passed on. + +One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It was from +Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous invitation to come to +Dodge and look over the market. + +"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have returned +to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is inviting. The boom +prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. Any investment in cattle +now is perfectly safe. + +"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will pass your +ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring a mount of +horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this year's drive is +here, unsold. Be sure and come." + +"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter. + +"I am," answered Joel with emphasis. + +"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap that no +other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to buy her. +Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to buy or all +want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys have told me; +but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I can see that he's +going to take advantage of that market and buy about ten thousand +cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. I'll stay with Dell until +you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, and I'll help you hold them +this winter." + +The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust cloud, the +slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching cavalcade. The last +week admitted of taking an account of the cattle dropped at the new +ranch. From the conserves of its owners, one hundred and four herds had +watered, over three hundred thousand cattle, the sweepings of which +amounted to a few over eleven hundred head, fully fifty of which, +exhausted beyond recovery, died after reaching their new range. + +By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August was +ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the division +foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the morning, in advance +of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for Joel. Dell answered for +the brothers, the older one and Sargent being above at Hackberry Grove. + +"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. "Make +haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of six horses +and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the seventh. My outfit +will barely touch here in passing. We're due to receive cattle in Dodge +on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can overtake us before night. +Make haste." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A PROTECTED CREDIT + + +The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. The +importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, he +started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were met +returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the breathless +report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the homeward ride. + +"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging out of +the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a feed of +corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince says that +that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a camp at night, +or trail a remuda like a hound." + +An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a wild-goose +chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I can make a hand +coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your name goes on the +pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of the ranch, anyhow. +There isn't much to do except to ride the dead-line twice a day. The +wintered cattle are located; and the cripples below--the water and +their condition will hold them. Keep open house, and amuse yourselves +the best you can. That's about all I can think of just now." + +Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his years, he +was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, the far-famed +trail-town of the West, and without visible resources buy cattle, was a +fit subject for musing. There the drovers from Texas and the ranchmen +from the north and west met and bartered for herds--where the drive of +the year amounted to millions in value. Still the boy carried a pressing +invitation from a leading drover to come, and neither slacking rein nor +looking back, he was soon swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain. + +Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said the +latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy cattle +without money gets me." + +"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured a start +in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a thousand head +out of the cripples this year, what have they cost you?" + +"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market where +buyers and sellers meet." + +"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of two +years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in Texas. Cattle +companies were organized on the very summit of that craze. Then came the +slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price nearly forty per cent. This +year there is a further falling. I'm giving you Texas conditions. Half +the herds at Dodge to-day are being handled by the receivers of cattle +companies or by trustees for banks. That accounts for the big drive. +Then this drouth came on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any +purpose, except to restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. +They'll buy the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get +good and ready." + +Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern cowman +can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?" + +"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his neck, all +the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is pouring into +cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as good as gold. Now, +when all that investment is trying to withdraw from cattle, they become +a drag on the market. The Simple Simons ain't all dead yet. Joel will +buy cattle." + +"He may, but I don't see how." + +"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are known in +Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during the drouth, +has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your behalf, is as good as +money in the bank. Joel will come back with cattle. My only fear is, he +won't strain his credit." + +"Credit! Who would credit us?" + +"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your showing at +the same age. They have fought their way up and know who to credit. Your +range and ability to hold cattle are your best assets. We must shape up +the ranch, because Joel will come in with cattle." + +"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, if Joel +comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and shout as +loud as any of you." + +"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's saddle up +horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I want to get the +lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the cattle." + +Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles a +day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the lone +horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman halted +until Joel overtook the travelers. + +"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to crowd three +days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with you, but I had a +wire to pick you up." + +"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more cattle," +admitted Joel. + +"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our way now +to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of cattle in +sight for you." + +"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if it takes +any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy. + +"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man do the +worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he has everything +all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, but it's as clear as +mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four days." + +The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after sunrise, +a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the heat-waves rolled +up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat and dust crusted over +the horses under saddle, without variation of pace or course. Only three +herds were met, feeling their way through the mirages, or loitering +along the waters. Traveling by night was preferable, and timing the +route into camps and marches, the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was +sighted in advance of the schedule. + +The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd had been +sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made snug, a +conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell alighted. + +"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, amid +general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on enough +cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to receive +them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll receive to-morrow +afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but his outfit ought to +reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on this market, and have +all the cattle in sight that I want. Several deals are pending, awaiting +the arrival of this boy. Come to town to-night. I'll take Joel under my +wing right now." + +Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and the +vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and following down +the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail wagon encamped. A +number of men were about, including a foreman; and at the request of Mr. +Lovell to look over their cattle and horses again the camp took on an +air of activity. A small remuda was corralled within ropes, running from +choice to common horses, all of which were looked over carefully by the +trio, including the wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, +and led by the foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to +bunch the herd. + +Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig and +leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the best +herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and I've kept the +deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it together. It runs full +thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred threes and the remainder +twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds for my beef ranch, because I +double-winter all my steer cattle--it takes two winters in the north to +finish these Texas steers right. Now, if you can handle the threes, the +remnant of twos, and the saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, +and barrel. The threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next +fall, and you can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two +thousand of the two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we +look them over, leave me to close the trade." + +"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy cattle +without money," earnestly said Joel. + +"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this herd +together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, and a +ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can buy, with or +without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like the cattle and want +them, leave it all to me." + +"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested Joel. + +"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these southern +horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year you'll be +running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending others on fall +round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll have them in the pink +of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few under sixty horses, as +fifty head were detailed out here to strengthen remudas that had to go +to the Yellowstone. This foreman will tell you that he topped out +twenty-five of the choice horses before the other trail bosses were +allowed to pick. As the remuda stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. +A year hence one will be as good as the other. You'll need the horses, +and by buying down to the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and +free, it will help me to close the trade, in our mutual interest." + +The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by quietly +edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be easily looked +over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the prospective buyers, the +foreman had the cattle sufficiently compact, and the old man and the boy +drove back and forth through the herd for fully an hour. They were +thrifty, western Texas steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the +trail at Camp Supply, and were all that could be desired in range +cattle. The two agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out +from among the cattle, the foreman was signaled up. + +"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said Mr. +Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to pick up +another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very near selling +me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the threes and remnant of +twos, and if you price the horses right, we might leave you afoot. If +you see Dudley before I do, tell him I looked over his cattle again." + +"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the vehicle. + +Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of wicked +Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its iniquity +catering largely to the rabble. + +"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you look +after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is almost sure +to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we looked over his cattle +again. I want him to hound me into buying that herd." + +Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to all that +was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in the extreme. +The two strolled about the streets during the evening hours, and on +returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard was awaiting the old +drover. There was no prelude to the matter at issue, and after arranging +with other sellers to receive the following day, Mr. Lovell led the way +to his room. + +"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, presenting +Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the Beaver this summer. +I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and gave him a good scolding +for not stocking his range somewhere near its carrying capacity. He's +the buyer I had in view for your three-year-olds. You offered me the +herd, on time, and at satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the +twos, and Wells Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you +afoot. Say so, and your herd is sold." + +"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen to know +the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend them a credit. +This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with boys." + +"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily replied +Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making the fight +that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early struggles, had +some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it might have been +different with us to-day. And now when I don't need no help--Dud, it +don't cost much to help others. These boys have proven themselves white, +to yours and to my men and to yours and to my cattle. Is there nothing +we can do?" + +Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer to you. +Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and remnants. You +know the brothers--you know their resources." + +"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot. + +"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?" + +"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. Their +only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last winter, the +most severe one in the history of the West, they lost two per cent of +their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good a showing on any of +our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to throw on this boy's +shoulders the _responsibility_ of _paying_ for _any cattle he buys_. At +his age it would be wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you +and I stand behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right +effort to protect his credit." + +"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll suggest the +means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway." + +Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet of +paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from seller to +buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will be a vendor's +lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its second will be the +appointment of a commission house, who will act as agent, hold this +contract, and receive the beeves when ready for shipment to market. Its +third clause will be your right, as creditor in a sale of chattel, to +place a man of your own selection on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their +pay and subject to their orders. As your representative, the privilege +is granted of making a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the +condition of the cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet +this, their covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887. + +"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. Lovell, +throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to learn the +value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, it's an asset. +I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I want him to meet his +first obligation on or before the day of maturity. I can speak for the +boy's willingness to make such a contract. What do you say?" + +"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard. + +"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a seven +days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your outfit home from +Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all your trouble. What +do you say?" + +"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a +square deal." + +The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and threw his +arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The cattle's yours! That +old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all around the big corral and +spur him in the flank at every jump, unless he comes to those terms. An +iron-clad bill of sale is its own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I +want to give the long yell." + +Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel arose to +meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and action. + +"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose twinkling +eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to draw up that +bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for themselves next +fall. Get to bed, you rascals!" + +"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river and +gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the doorway. + +"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the morning. We'll +close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred of those Womack +twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an eye over Joel's +cattle until the Beaver's reached." + +During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in contact +with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the migrations +of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and Ogalalla are +unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, reaching a climax +on American soil, and not of record in any other country or time. Joel +let little escape him. Here men bought and sold by the thousand head, in +his day and generation, and he was a part of that epoch. + +The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest were +purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in receiving a +herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted by two competent +foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and wherefore, was pointed +out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, so that the lesson sunk into +Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the first herd received was in the +uniform average of each animal, when ages, class, and build governed +selection. + +Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's rest +arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next morning. +When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness with which the +two outfits classified the cattle was only short of marvelous. The +threes were cut out, and each age counted. The over-plus of the younger +cattle were cut back, and the contingents were tendered on delivery. The +papers were ready, executed on the ground, and the herds started, the +smaller in the lead. + +The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most of his +time with the little herd, which used only eight men, counting Joel, who +stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd numbered a few over +fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six horses, a team and wagon, +the total contract price of which was a trifle under twenty-five +thousand dollars. It looked like a serious obligation for two boys to +assume, but practical men had sanctioned it, and it remained for the +ability of Wells Brothers to meet it. + +On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the new trail, +which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, a remark was +dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack Sargent. It resulted +in the two riding out on the trail, only to meet the purchased cattle, +Joel on one point and Forrest on the other, directing the herds to the +tanks below. The action bespoke its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the +latter jerked his thumb over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and +pilot the wagon and remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of +cattle into the new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. +Lovell's cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. +See how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over that. +Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit to the +railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers are shaking +out a right smart bit of sail these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"THE WAGON" + + +The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the appointed +time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial obligation, it +would establish their standing, and to that end every energy must be +directed. They were extremely fortunate in the advice and help of two +young men bred to the occupation, and whose every interest lay in making +a success of the ranch. + +The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything was +abandoned but their saddles--_burning the wagon_--while Joe Manly, one +of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even the foreman, and on +taking his departure the trail boss, in the presence of all, said to his +man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to this ranch and make a useful hand. +Drop old man Dudley a line whenever you have a chance. It's quite a +little ride to the station, and we'll understand that no news is good +news. And once you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, +better raise the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the +fall--during the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next +summer's plans begin to unfold." + +Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of the +South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had watered +during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving its foreman on +the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, paving the way in +detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle during the coming winter. +With numbers exceeding three thousand, close herd and corralling at +night was impossible, and the riding of lines, with an extra camp, +admitting of the widest freedom, was decided on as the most feasible +method. The new camp must be located well above Hackberry Grove, and to +provision it for man and horse was one of the many details outlined in +meeting the coming winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having +held cattle by one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting +some other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was simple +and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault from +drifting cattle. + +Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next morning, he +turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may be the last time +I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is talk of the trail +moving west. On account of fever, this State threatens to quarantine +against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail will have to move over into +Colorado or hunt a new route through unorganized counties on the western +line of Kansas. In event of quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger +range for Wells Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in +cattle, just getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big +future for you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, +toddling around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't matter +if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank account, be living +on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as you stick to cows, +through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse you." + +The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and Manly +busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and Sargent +accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that evening, and it +proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for that summer. + +The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was narrowed +to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle watering at +the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, including all +horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty head, was moved up +to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The wintered horses furnished +ample saddle mounts for the present, there being little to do, as the +water held the new cattle and no herding was required. The heat of +summer was over, the water held in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch +settled down in pastoral security. + +Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of forage must +be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to the man was the +lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery was available on the +railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned with a new mowing machine, +and the matter of providing abundant forage was easily met. Sufficient +hay, from a few bends of the creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the +home ranch, and a week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site +of the new line-camp equipped with winter forage. + +While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced on Wells +Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to any pastoral +occupation, and hence _the wagon_ becomes a cowman's home and castle. +From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, welcomes the wayfarer, and +exchanges the chronicle of the range. The wagon, which had been acquired +with the new herd and used on the above occasion, was well equipped with +canvas cover, water barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The +latter was fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a +kitchen. When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus becomes +home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the other. Saddle +horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the safety of a camp-fire +and the protection of their masters, and therefore a closer bond exists +between the men of the open and their mounts than under more refined +surroundings. + +Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down the +Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of running water. +It was followed by early frosts, lifting the dead-line and ushering in +Indian summer. With forage secure, attention was turned to the cattle. +The purchase of a mowing machine had exhausted the funds derived from +the sale of peltry, and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide +the munitions for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly +provisioned for a week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the +quartette moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown into a +compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the spiritless +cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid as fawns, shied +from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in comforting concern, the beeves +waddled about from carrying their own flesh, while the patriarchs of the +herd bellowed in sullen defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut +out from the ---- Y brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first +shipment of cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets. + +Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the railroad. +Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the remuda, the two +others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn in standing guard at +night. Water was plentiful, cars were in waiting, and on reaching the +railroad, the cattle were corralled in the shipping pens. + +Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The beeves were +consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as factor in +marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently passed from the +possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells Brothers. The two cars of +cattle found a ready sale, the weights revealing a surprise, attracting +the attention of packers and salesmen to the quality of beef from the +Beaver valley. + +"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a salesman to a +packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the weighing scale. "You +and I needn't worry about the question of range--the buffalo knew. Catch +the weights of these cattle and compare it with range beef from the +sedge-grass and mountain country. Tallow tells its own story--the +buffalo knew the best range." + +An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a mutual +basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, detained Joel +and Manly in his private office for an hour. + +"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to ship," said +the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The Solomon River +country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is the first shipment +from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your consignment the fattest +range beeves on to-day's market. And these weights confirm the +statement. I don't understand it. What kind of a country have you +out there?" + +Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered the +latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by the +thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and rolls away." + +It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. "The +grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native grasses?" + +"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of course, +here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a little blue-stem, +enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. The cattle won't +touch it." + +The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, of which +the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The details were gone +over carefully, the outlook for next year's shipments reviewed, and on +taking their leave, the old man said to his guests:-- + +"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters from both +Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over the situation, +with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and satisfactory. Next +year's shipments will take care of the contract. Keep in touch with us, +and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship your cattle in finished +condition, and they'll make a market for themselves. We'll expect you +early next summer." + +"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel. + +"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your single-wintered +beeves," said the old man, from his practical knowledge in maturing +beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has your account all ready." + +Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a moment. The +beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and except for current +expenses, the funds were left on deposit with the commission house, as +there were no banks near home; the account was subject to draft, and +accepting a small advance in currency, the boys departed. A brief hour's +shopping was indulged in, the principal purchases being two long-range +rifles, cartridges and poison in abundance, when they hastened to the +depot and caught a west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, +and at evening the next day the two rode into headquarters on +the Beaver. + +Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the first +shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an air of +independence indicated the turn in the swing of the pendulum. Practical +men, in every avenue of the occupation, had lent their indorsement to +the venture of the brothers, the mettle of the pasture had been tested +in the markets, and the future, with reasonable vigilance, rested on +sure foundations. + +The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think Uncle Dud +would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at supper. "There's +no occasion for my staying here this winter. Besides, I'm a tender +plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of thunder. Wouldn't I like +to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, 'Come home, my little white +chicken, come home!'" + +"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!" + +"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now listen to the +foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every hoof up to date. +Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building of a new dug-out and +stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight in plenty of corn. After +that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's our own fault. No excuse will +pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, +make yourself a useful guest for the winter." + +A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their mothers were +brought down to the home corral and branded in a single day. The +Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were exempt, the Lazy H +ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. Only cripple, fagged, and +stray cattle were branded, the latter numbering less than a hundred +head, and were run into the Hospital brand, while the remainder bore +the--Y of the ranch. The work was completed within a week, Dell making a +hand which proved his nerve, either in the saddle or branding pen. + +The first week in October was devoted to building the new dug-out and +stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and tool on the +ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as well as the +remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as if it were a +frolic. The site had been decided on during the haying, and on reaching +the scene, the tent was set up, and the building of a shelter for man +and horse was begun. + +The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and the +remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt break or +low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot cellar walls on +three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod walls and containing +the door. The sod was broken by a team and plough, cut into lengths like +brick, and the outside walls raised to the desired height. For roofing, +a heavy ridge-pole was cut the length of the room, resting on stout +upright posts. Lighter poles were split and laid compactly, like +rafters, sheeted with hay, and covered with loose dirt to the depth of a +foot. The floor was earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented +by a door in the south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable +shelter. A roomy stable was built on the same principle and from the +same material. + +The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, when the +quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway house at Land's +End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the new improvements. "What +are you going to call the new tepee?" + +"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell having +accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and let the +latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you must bring your +knitting and come over." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OPEN WINTER + + +An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late fall +frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light rains in +September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on the sunny +slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus assuring abundant +forage to the cattle. + +Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any cold, +while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the plains. +After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, the quartette +paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new dug-out, while the other +two were perfectly content with the old shack at headquarters. A healthy +spirit of rivalry sprang up, extending from a division of the horses +down to a fair assignment of the blankets. + +Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter aroused a +dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said Sargent, "up on +the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail outfit were detailed +until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the cattle, and of course the +cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught us in camp, and that poor +darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to say to the foreman, shivering +over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah +fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no +place fo' a po' ol' niggah.'" + +Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round trips +being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies for the +winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of which were +four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of corned beef fell a +pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was nothing new in pickling +the meat, and with the exception of felling the beeves, the incident +passed as part of the day's work. Dell claimed the privilege of making +the shots, which Sargent granted, but exercised sufficient caution to +corral the beeves. Both fell in their tracks, and the novice gained +confidence in his skill in the use of a rifle. + +The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of lines. That +date found all the new cattle drifted above headquarters, and as it was +some ten miles to the upper line-camp, an extremely liberal range was +allowed the herd. Eight of the best wintered horses were stabled, and at +first the line was maintained on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer +line was agreed upon, five miles to the south; but until the season +forced the cattle to the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept +under patrol. The outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an +immense half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the winter +range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, drifting +before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back or +trailed down. + +The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. Many of +the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, not even +coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several times the +horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an advantage, the +cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft snow even failed to +bring the cattle into the valley. + +Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. The +through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter fat and +furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and instinctively +leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the first storm. Between +the morning and evening patrol of a perfect day, the herd, of its own +accord, drifted into the valley, the leaders rioting in a wild frolic. +Their appearance hastened the patrol of the inner line by an hour, every +nook and shelter, including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome +cattle. The calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the +older cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their +foreheads in clay and soft dirt. + +"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met. + +"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came the +reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, the +herd say so." + +"What can we do?" + +"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless driven out +by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming storm also +teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the blue-stem to-night, or +hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank." + +A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was agreed +upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out early, and +keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the line," Sargent +called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will leave The Wagon at +daybreak." + +The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an angry +horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from the north. +On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm on an angle, +edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting defiance and +warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. The light advanced +slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, obscuring the valley, and not +until the slope to the south was reached was the situation known. + +No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving the +line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering trace +where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both he and Dell +dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach and departure, +the range-bred man was able to give a perfect summary of the situation. + +"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," remarked +Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; the storm must +have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. They struck the +creek in the flats and were driven out of the valley. The trail's not +over two hours old. Ride the line until you meet the other boys, and +I'll trail down these cattle. The sand dunes ought to catch them." + +Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was met. +Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a contingent +of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting the stragglers +back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers turned to the +assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, and finally bearing +off for the sand hills. Several times the sun threatened to break +through, lighting the valley, but without revealing any stir among the +cattle in the shelter of the creek. In the short time since leaving +their stables, the horses under saddle had whitened from the action of +the frost on their sweaty coats, unheeded by their riders. There was no +checking of mounts until the range of dunes was reached, when from the +summit of a sand hill the stragglers were located in care of Sargent, +and on the homeward drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered +from the cold that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, +and were overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain. + +The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of the +brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the sun burst +forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in parting. "A few +hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got the upper hand of this +storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the wind lulls, we'll ride the +inner line to-night and bed every hoof in the shelter of the creek. Pick +up Manly, and we'll ride the valley line about the middle of the +afternoon." + +Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under patrol +from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to Dell, +leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and before noon +all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty miles had been +covered that morning, in riding the line and recovering the lost, and at +the agreed time, the relay horses were under saddle for the afternoon +task. The sun had held sway, the wind had fallen, and as they followed +up the valley, they encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to +every quarter of the compass. They were not molested on the outward +ride, but on the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to +the sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. A +crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found the +cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first bottoms of +the creek. + +The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own accord, +the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern divide. The +line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for observing the +Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to secure a venison. The +absence of snow, during the storm, had held the antelope tributary to +the Beaver, and locating game was an easy matter. To provide the roast, +the spirit of rivalry was accented anew, and each camp fervently hoped +for its own success. + +A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a running shot +at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a morning siesta +near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only be found in the sand +hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent had flattered Dell into +believing that his aim was equal to the occasion. The broken nature of +the dune country admitted of stealthy approach, and its nearness to the +upper camp recommended it as an inviting hunting ground. The +disappointment of the first effort, due to moderated weather, was in +finding the quarry far afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the +protection of the sand hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without +shelter to screen a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and +selecting a quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins +lengthened by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking right +and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a stealthy +approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed ravenously, +sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect screen for stalking. + +After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was reached, when +the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass and allowed the +horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent indicated a sentinel buck, +presenting the best shot; and using his elbow for a rest, the rifle was +laid in the hollow of Dell's upraised hand and drawn firmly to his +shoulder, and a prompt report followed. The shot went wild, throwing up +a flash of dust before the band, which instantly whirled. The horses +merely threw up their heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, +which ran up within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the +excitement of the moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had +arisen to his knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another +cartridge into the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as +the band excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger +in vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a few +feet of the muzzle of the rifle! + +The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, laughing +until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's chagrin left him +standing like a simpleton. + +"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too easy +on the trigger." + +"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered Sargent, not +daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next spring, those scars +in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither horse was killed. Honest, +I'll never breathe it! Not for worlds!" + +Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his horse, +mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching their saddles, +the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a pleasant dream, the +boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck ague?" he earnestly inquired. + +"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his horse. +"Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or discharges one into +the ground at his feet, he ought to take something for his nerves. It's +not fatal, and I have hopes of your recovery." + +The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a peal of +laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed to +appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, "if we +have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I can grace it +with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of venison, it will fit the +occasion just as well." + +The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual amount +of banter and repartee was exchanged. + +"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked Sargent +scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much confidence +in your skill as hunters." + +"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly. + +"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We located +a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, I'll go out +in the morning and bring in a fat yearling." + +"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly with +refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow and come +down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're going to have +quite a spread." + +Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with polished +contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived on beans at +The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware wasn't as good as +their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come on!" + +Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before noon, a +young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations were made for an +extensive dinner. The practical range man is usually a competent cook, +and from the stores of the winter camp a number of extra dishes were +planned. In the way of a roast, on the plains, a saddle of venison was +the possible extreme, and the occupants of the line-camp possessed a +ruddy health which promised appetites to grace the occasion. + +Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed the dead +weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the creek from pool +to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with droning bees and +flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning patrol alone, meeting +Joel at the halfway point, when the two dismounted, whiling away several +hours in considering future plans of the ranch. + +It was high noon when the two returned to their respective quarters. +Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the venison, and on +his crony's return, the two sat down to their Christmas dinner. What the +repast lacked in linen and garnishment, it made up in stability, graced +by a cheerfulness and contentment which made its partakers at peace with +the world. Sargent was almost as resourceful in travel and story as +Quince Forrest, and never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace +any occasion. + +Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, was +enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to Sargent, "you +promised to tell a story at dinner to-day." + +"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into the ground +at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if I have to +laugh; you looked like a simpleton." + +"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell. + +"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, but in +a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to be your +father, but he looked just as witless as you did." + +"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy. + +"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in certain +sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a week's +shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, known as one of +the most fearless officers in the state. In size he simply towered above +the rest of us. + +"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking and +coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting grounds, and +the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg and every jug on +the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and were carried in +the wagon. + +"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a quail +pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the afternoon, he +killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very plentiful, and instead of +picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such a number was much quicker. In +the hurry and bustle of making the camp snug for the night, every one +was busy, the sheriff in particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On +finishing the task, he asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse +wrangler reached into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into +the vessel containing the dressed birds. + +"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and drain +his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: 'Ignacio, I +smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if the lantern +isn't leaking.' + +"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere. + +"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway through +the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. See if the +lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.' + +"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in the +flour.' + +"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: 'Ignacio, +I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a lantern without oil +puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. Drop your work and see +what the trouble is. There's a leak somewhere.' + +"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the wagon +wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, shook it, +and lifted it above his head in search of a possible crack. The empty +jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually sifted through his +mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big sheriff, just then +finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the saints to witness, he +gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail in the kerosene!' + +"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's face is +only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. "I've been +fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a Texas sheriff, and +again, when you shot a hole in the ground with your eye on an antelope. +Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I conjure up the scene of a +Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, holding a jug, and a six-footer in +the background, smelling the fingers of one hand and then the other." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN INDIAN SCARE + + +The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered wide, +ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. The latter +was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson to the +brothers, and readily explained by the older and more practical men. For +instance, a north or the dreaded east wind brought the herd into the +valley, where it remained until the weather moderated, and then drifted +out of its own free will. When a balmy south wind blew, the cattle +grazed against it, and when it came from a western quarter, they turned +their backs and the gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under +settled weather, even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it +was an easy matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the +coming day. + +The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, but more +as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The occasional reports +of Manly to his employer were flattering in the extreme. Any risk +involved in the existing contract hinged on the present winter, and +since it was all that could be desired, every fine day added to the +advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their venture had been greeted with +fair winds, and with not a cloud in the visible sky. Manly was even +recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in February. + +Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a fortnight +earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the willows were +bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening slopes rolled +away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp was abandoned, the +cattle were scattered over the entire valley, and the instincts to +garden were given free rein. The building of two additional tanks, one +below the old trail crossing and the other near the new camp above, +occupied a month's time to good advantage. It enlarged the range beyond +present needs; but the brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, +and theirs was strictly a policy of expansion. + +An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing errand, was +usually rewarded with important news. During the winter just passed, +Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the trail was barred +from that state. Early in May information reached the ranch that the +market interests of Dodge City had moved over the line into Colorado, +and had established a town on the railroad, to be known as Trail City. A +feasible route lay open to the south, across No-Man's-Land, into the +Texas Panhandle, while scouting parties were out with the intent of +locating a new trail to Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River +nearly due westward from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one +hundred miles distant. + +"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You must +have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river and a +railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the east to +the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you can buy +cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until frost, and +cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may prove an +advantage after all." + +The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The beaver +ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill race, and the +question of water for the summer was answered. The cattle early showed +the benefits of the favorable winter, and by June the brands were +readable at a glance. From time to time reports from the outside world +reached the brothers, and among other friendly letters received was an +occasional inquiry from the commission firm, the factors named under the +existing contract. The house kept in touch with the range, was fully +aware of the open winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in +maturing cattle for early shipment. + +The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent out a +month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised of a +promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the commission house, +and during the first week in July he arrived at headquarters. He was a +practical man, with little concern for comfort, as long as there were +cattle to look over. Joel took him in tow, mounted him on the pick of +saddle horses, and the two leisurely rode the range. + +"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride. + +"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. Put in +all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that range wide, +for we rode around every outside bunch. He _can_ talk, because he +admitted we have good horses." + +Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At parting the +following morning, in summing up the outlook, the solicitor surprised +the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he quietly. "You must ship +early. Your double-wintered beeves will reach their prime this month. +You may ship them any day after the 25th. Your single-wintered ones can +follow in three weeks. The firm may be able to advise you when to ship. +It's only a fourteen-hour run to the yards, and if you work a +beef-shipping outfit that's up to date, you can pick your day to reach +the market. Get your outfit together, keep in touch with the house by +wire, and market your beef in advance of the glut from the +Platte country." + +The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," said +Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us two men +during the beef-shipping season." + +"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in hand. + +"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?" + +"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. There +may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, fully +anticipating the query. + +"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand. + +The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled glance, but +Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," said the latter. +"The chances are that he's forgotten more about cattle than some of +these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he reads the sign without +much effort. His survey of this range and the outlook are worth +listening to. Better look up an outfit of men." + +"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm gone to the +Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the horses." + +The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located on the +range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters at once. They +had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, and a single day +would be required to gather and corral the ranch remuda. It numbered, +complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and the wisdom of buying the +majority a year in advance of their needs reflected the foresight of a +veteran cowman. Many of them were wild, impossible of approach, the call +of the plain and the free life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with +every heart-beat, and several days would be required to bring them under +docile subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep. + +The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied forth, +mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among the clouds. +During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed in the sand +hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle horses was watering. +The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the range, fully fifteen +miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle stock must be brought in, +the day's work required riding a wide circle. Skirting the sand dunes, +by early noon all the horses were in hand, save the band of thirty. +There was no occasion for all hands to assist in bringing in the absent +ones, and a consultation resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the +task, while Sargent returned home with the horses already gathered. + +The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours after +parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The brothers knew +every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid condition, they started +homeward, driving the loose mounts before them. The most direct course +to headquarters was taken, which would carry the cavalcade past the +springs and the upper winter quarters. The latter was situated in the +brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt turns of the creek, until its near +approach, shutting out a western view of the deserted dug-out. The +cavalcade was drifting home at a gentle trot, but on approaching The +Wagon, a band of ponies was sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. +The boys veered their horses, taking to the western divide, and on +gaining it, saw below them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, +around the springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos. + +Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their surprise, +all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the Indians came +tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them running for their +ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked leader signaled to the +brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment with the boys, who conversed +in whispers, never halting on their course, and when the Indians reached +their ponies, every brave dashed up to the encampment. A short parley +followed, during which signaling was maintained by the old Indian, +evidently a chief; but the boys kept edging away, and the old brave +sprang on a pony and started in pursuit, followed by a number of +his band. + +The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their mounts, shook +out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started the loose horses in a +mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to headquarters, and their +mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy saddles and the day's work, +were none too fresh, while the Indians rode bareback and were not +encumbered by an ounce of extra clothing. + +The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead of taking +to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued and pursuers in +plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so the loose horses +were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping clear of the whizzing +ropes. But after the first wild dash, the remuda began to scatter, and +the Indians gained on the cavalcade, coming fairly abreast and not over +four hundred yards distant. + +"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off from +headquarters!" + +"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. "Don't +let these loose horses turn into the valley." + +The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The meanderings +of the latter were crossed and recrossed without halting, while the +watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by dry washes and coulees, +thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. The race wore on with varying +advantage, and when near halfway to headquarters, the Indians turned up +the slope as if to verify Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a +half-dozen of the loose horses cut off from the band and turned down the +slope in plain sight of the pursuers. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY] + +"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. "Climbing +that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where we have the +best of it." + +The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept past the +abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level stretch on +the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the pursuers, baffled in +cutting them off, turned again into the valley. + +"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward glance. + +"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, and +ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice of horses +would not appease their pursuers. + +The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the brothers dipped +from sight of the Indians. The act confused the latter, who scaled the +divide, only to find the objects of their chase a full half-mile in the +lead, but calling on the last reserve in their fagged horses. The +pursuers gradually closed the intervening gap; but with the advantage of +knowing every foot of the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried +them into the valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a +straight stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the +boys dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses. + +"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. "Indians have +been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, Jack!" + +Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as Sargent +left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, and showed +splendid action in reaching the dug-out. + +Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating rifle, +while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to unearth the +story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre revealed the +Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and parleying among +themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to be unarmed, and on +Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, the old brave, simply +held up his hand. + +"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and signaled +in the leader. + +The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his followers +behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his wrinkled visage. +He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty breech-clout a greasy, grimy +letter, and tendered it to Sargent. + +The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter. + +"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine Ridge +Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian Territory. The +agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a peaceful Indian, and has +his permission to leave the reservation. He hopes that nothing but +kindness will be shown the old chief in his travels, and bespeaks the +confidence of any white settlers that he may meet on the way. You boys +must have been scared out of your wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show +you this letter." + +Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook hands +with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone Wolf, and on +returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor was burdened with +pickled beef and such other staples as the cow-camp afforded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HARVEST ON THE RANGE + + +Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone four days. +The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, but constant +inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose holdings consisted of +stock cattle. Three men were secured, their services not being urgently +required on the home ranch until the fall branding, leaving only a cook +and horse wrangler to be secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a +homesteader and his boy, anxious for work, and the two were engaged. + +"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. "It +gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first shipment +with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little green at first, +but they're willing, and that masters any task. We'll have to be patient +with them--we were all beginners once. Any man who ever wrestled with a +homestead ought to be able to cook." + +"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man like +settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. In the +West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability to use +baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide." + +The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. Within +a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with unerring +nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to another. The +double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their former range; but in +order to quicken the work, any beeves of that class found below were +drifted above headquarters. It was a distinct advantage to leave the +herd undisturbed, and with the first shipment drifted to one end of the +range, a small round-up or two would catch all marketable beeves. + +The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and wrangler +were initiated into their respective duties at once. The wagon was +equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and an ample mount +allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted over the saddle +stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task daunted their +numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as the work was fully +understood, the concerted efforts of all relieved him of any concern, +except in arranging the details. The ranch had fallen heir to a +complete camp kit, with the new wagon, and with a single day's +preparations, the shipping outfit stood ready to move on an +hour's notice. + +It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that Wells +Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. Sargent had +figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to execute a shipment, +and was rather impatient to try out the outfit in actual field work. + +"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a little +swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct the cook and +wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real thing." + +Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning to gather +beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp." + +"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced Sargent. +"Roll your blankets in the morning, boys." + +A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys were +impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your double-wintered +beeves on Saturday's market." + +"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The wagon +and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the messenger +order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be on +Saturday's market." + +Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier returning to +the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown out from the old +winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle rendered them lazy, +half the horsemen halted until the other sighted the grove above. As +early as advisable, the gradual circle was begun, turning the cattle +into the valley, concentrating, and by slowly edging in, the first +round-up of the day was thrown together, numbering, range run, fully six +hundred head. Two men were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell +volunteered to watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other +three to cut out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. +A short hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and when +cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was reflected +in every beef. + +The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed nearly +double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of the beeves +was made, which overran in numbers the necessary shipment. They were +extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car was the limit, and it +became necessary to trim or cull back to the desired number. Sargent and +Joel passed on every rejected beef, uniform weight being desirable, +until the shipment stood acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish. + +The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without delay. +Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, and a grazing +pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good season. The day's +work consisted in merely pointing and drifting the cattle forward, +requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help to initiate the cook and +wrangler in their field duties. Joel had been a close observer of the +apparent ease with which a cook discharged his duty, frequently halting +his wagon on a moment's notice, and easily preparing a meal for an +outfit of trail men within an hour. The main secret lay in the +foresight, in keeping his work in advance, and Joel lent every +assistance in coaching his cook to meet the emergency of any demand. + +Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of horses had +seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and attention was +called to observing each individual horse and the remuda as a whole. For +instance, in summer, a horse grazes against the breeze, and if the +remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, the wind holding from the +same quarter during the night, a practical wrangler would know where to +find his horses at dawn. The quarter of the breeze was therefore always +noted, any variation after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the +wind, turning the course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were +leaders among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy had no +fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his leave-taking was +gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling alone in the open. + +"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to the +father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer ends, he'll +know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's nothing like knowing +your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; know their spirit, know them +in health, lame and wounded. If a horse neighs at night, know why; if +one's missing in the morning, name him like you would an absent boy +at school." + +The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. The +beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep in +night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three guards +stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd off its bed +at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through the noon hours. + +An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening before +loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into the station +in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get the shipping +details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, having been +ordered on from Trail City. + +"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for a +special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a local +freight from here, but I showed him there were other train shipments to +follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another one to my old man +done the work. Those old boys know how to pull the strings. A special +train has been ordered, and you can name your own hour for leaving in +the morning. I have a man with me; send us in horses and we'll help you +corral your beeves." + +Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two horses +were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra men joined +the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. An early hour +was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in promptly, and the +first shipment of the year was cut into car lots and loaded out during a +morning hour. + +Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was noticeable +around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting for a passenger +schedule, there was billing to be done and contracts to execute, +telegrams of notification to be sent the commission firm, and general +instructions to the beef outfit. Joel and Sargent were to accompany the +shipment, and on starting, while the engineer and conductor were +comparing their running orders, Sargent called out from the rear of the +caboose:-- + +"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. "Here's +two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take some candy +home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you can have my +little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you can have all my +other playthings." + +The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned homeward. +Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and the remainder +of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. Manly had been +away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and Dell rode the range, +pending the return of the absent. Under ideal range conditions, the +cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, having rounded into form +beyond belief. + +"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the range; +"they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with a hardiness +that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they repay every debt. +Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will almost wipe the slate. +Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent +on making it that my old man simply gave in. And now you're going to +make a fortune out of these Lazy H's. No wonder us fool Texans love +a cow." + +The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only topped +the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but topped it in +price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two dollars a head!" + +Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said Joel, +"the commission firm will order the trains and send us a practical +shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to rush our +shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays to be on +time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these railroad +passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. If any one has +to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and leave the cattle +to follow." + +The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome asset. The +first consignment from the ranch gave the men a field-trial, and now +that the actual shipping season was at hand, an allotment of horses was +made. The numbers of the remuda admitted of mounting every man to the +limit, and with their first shipment a success, the men rested +impatiently awaiting orders. + +The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' later +date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for fulfillment. The +outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the evening before, and by +noon two round-ups had yielded twenty car-loads of straight Lazy H +beeves. When trimmed to their required numbers, twenty-two to the car, +they reflected credit to breeder and present owner. + +In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was no +apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at evening +and morning, brought the herd within summons of the shipping yards on +time. That the beeves might be favored, they were held outside for the +night, three miles from the corral, but an early sun found them safely +inside the shipping pens. Two hours later, the full train was en route +to market, in care of a practical shipper. + +On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to the +commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour after +the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the shipment, was +received from Mr. Stoddard. + +"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the last +cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two herds on the +market this year, one at Trail City and the other at Ogalalla, and he +may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You have a pass; you can +catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake the cattle train in time to +see the beeves unloaded." + +"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling through his +pockets for the forgotten pass. + +"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, single +ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. Same range, +same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly safe in buying them +unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought last year, with the +advantage of a better season on the trail. All you need to do is to +agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are as honest as gold and +twice as good." + +"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with decision. +"If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train from the Lazy +H's. I'll be back in a day or two." + +Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. At dusk +he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market yards on schedule +time. The shipper's duty ceased with the unloading of the cattle, which +was easily completed before midnight, when he and his employer +separated. The market would not open until a late morning hour, +affording ample time to rest and refresh the beeves, and to look up +acquaintances in the office. + +Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first stir of +the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even arrived, he +was hanging around the office of the commission firm. The expected +shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm much earlier than +usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. Mr. Stoddard was +summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the hearty greeting between +the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual occupation. + +The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an interested +party left the commission office and sauntered forth to watch the beeves +cross the scale. It was the parting look of breeder, owner, and factor, +and when the average weight was announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to +the others. + +"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you last +summer?" + +"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel. + +"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the boys +who matured them. I must be an old fogy." + +"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission house. +"Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To be sure, +as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man can raise a +frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers aren't afraid of +a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the lion's share falls +to them." + +"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially quoted +the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly to your +northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse your Uncle +Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree." + +"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old factor. + +"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story that is +told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. He's my +customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day." + +The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each beef +was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the letter of +the bond, and each party to the contract respected his obligation. + +After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard and Joel +wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to find all +accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. The second +shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, and when the +canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned to the senior +member of the firm. + +"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same price +and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This quarantine raises +havoc with delivery." + +"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked the +senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist on a rigid +enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle cattle, and any +north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of health. If that's all +that stands in the way of a trade, our firm will use its good offices." + +"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take your +herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on the +Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. This firm +is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," he concluded, +turning to the member present. + +"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any confidence +reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the quarantine +authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he requested, turning to +a map and indicating the shipping station. + +Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. The +Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the north, with +unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado. + +"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the only +cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the bill of +health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry in your +other shipments, and the railroad can use its influence--it'll want +cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be restocked." + +There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was sent to +Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the beef outfit, to +hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home that night, and the +next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from the Beaver, with a +perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It was early harvest on the +cattle ranges, and those who were favored with marketable beef were +eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall shipments. + +The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report provoked +argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men lounged around +the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit. + +"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the lads from +the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle without seeing +them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not this one of old man +Vivian's boys! Oh, no!" + +"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. "Your +view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your tickets +cost somewhere between four and six bits." + +Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, gazed at +the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how your folks +bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow is a cow, a steer +is a steer, according to his age, and so on down to the end of the +alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and there's no occasion for +seeing them. If you are laboring under the idea that my old man would +use any deception to sell a herd, you have another guess coming. He'd +rather lose his right hand than to misrepresent the color of a cow. He's +as jealous of his cattle as a miller is of his flour. These boys are his +customers, last fall, this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he +wanted them, Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen." + +The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on schedule +time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the side track, and +an engine and crew could be summoned on a few hours' notice. If +corralled the night before, passing trains were liable to excite the +beeves, and thereafter it became the usual custom to hold outside and +safely distant. + +The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping operations. +Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at sunrise on the +morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started homeward. + +"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," said Joel +to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch at headquarters. +Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make camp at the lower +tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of Lazy H's. The rest of +the outfit will follow, once these cattle are loaded out. You might have +a late supper awaiting us--about ten o'clock to-night." + +The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut into car +lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the loading began. +A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the dusty horsemen +mounted and clattered into the straggling hamlet. + +The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the first +running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful lunch. The +horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again took up their +former road gait. An evening halt was made on the Prairie Dog, where an +hour's grazing was again allowed, the time being wholly devoted to +looking into the future. + +"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining his +plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this creek, in +case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered nook, cache a +little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the cattle break the +line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning and check them. It +beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a twenty-mile start. We +could lash our blankets on a pack horse and ride it night or day." + +"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could almost +eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is surely a +meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef shipping's on in full +blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting on the Beaver." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LIVING IN THE SADDLE + + +The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning horsemen +safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for the task of +the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment would come from the +flotsam of the year before, many of which were heavy beeves, intended +for army delivery, but had fallen footsore on the long, drouthy march. +The past winter had favored the lame and halt, and after five months of +summer, the bulk of them had matured into finished beef. + +By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers were +enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were kept, but +had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have rendered a +statement from memory of returns on the double and single wintered, as +well as on the purchased cattle. Sale statements were furnished by the +commission house, and by filing these, an account of the year's +shipments, each brand separate, could be made up at the end of +the season. + +The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, was now +happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as their +portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose the class of +cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The range had proven +itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter would carry only +sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings of cattle. + +"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at breakfast, "I'd +stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter every hoof. Look +over those sale statements and you'll see what two winters mean. That +first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, and yet they netted seven +dollars a head less than those rag-tag, double-wintered ones. There's a +waste that must be saved hereafter." + +"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof that has +the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three two-year-old steers +to take his place. It may take another year or two to shape up our +cattle, but after that, every hoof must be double-wintered." + +An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the first +round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves without any +excitement was fully understood, and to gather a shipment without +disturbing those remaining was a task that required patience and +intelligence. Men on the outside circle merely turned the cattle on the +extremes of the range; they were followed by inner horsemen, and the +drag-net closed at a grazing pace, until the round-up halted on a +few acres. + +The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last course in +the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a mixed round-up. +On the present work, those horses which had proven apt were held in +reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle was quieting down, the +remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to four cutting horses. The +average cow can dodge and turn quicker than the ordinary horse, and only +a few of the latter ever combine action and intelligence to outwit the +former. Cunning and ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a +perfect rein, coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of +range mounts--the cutting horse. + +Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent took him +in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered the herd. "Now, +I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you cut them out. All you +need to do is to rein that horse down on your beef, and he'll take him +out of the herd. Of course you'll help the horse some little; but if you +let too many back, I'll call our wrangler and try him out. That horse +knows the work just as well as you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over +your beef." + +The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, and only +a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. Dell made a +record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an hour, and only +letting one renter the herd. The latter was a pony-built beef, and +after sullenly leaving the herd, with the agility of a cat, he whirled +right and left on the space of a blanket, and beat the horse back into +the round-up. Sargent lent a hand on the second trial, and when the beef +saw that resistance was useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away +to join those selected for shipment. + +"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you out. +Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit horse could +turn him. And he showed you." + +"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the herd, +quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef reaches the +edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop out like +door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as rigid as ropes, +and he touches the ground as if he was walking on eggs. Look at him now; +goes poking along as if he was half asleep." + +"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you can +strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your steer, +that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king pin--that's +royalty." + +A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of beeves. +They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require reclassing +before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish were fully up to +standard, but the manner in which they were acquired left them uneven, +their ages varying from four to seven years. + +"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves had +been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. Instead of +five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this year's shipment +from crumbs will net you double that amount. The first gathering of beef +will square the account with every thirsty cow you watered last summer." + +An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The shipment +must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within half a mile of +the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and Sargent. The +contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and in order to have +them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be cut into a class by +themselves, leaving the remainder neat and uniform. A careful hour's +work resulted in seven car-loads of extra heavy beeves, which were +corralled separately and in advance of the others, completing a long day +in the saddle. + +Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A permit from +the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due to the influence +of the commission house and others, admitting the through herd, then en +route from Ogalalla. The grant required a messenger to meet the herd +without delay, and Dell volunteered his services as courier. Darkness +fell before supper was over and the messenger ready. + +"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his brother, +"and those through cattle can come in the day we gather our last train. +We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't reached the +Republican, push ahead until you meet it." + +A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the herd to +follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite our +middle tank?" + +"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count and +receive them." + +Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely home +to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon to-morrow. +If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll drop down on +you in a day and a half." + +The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and advice +followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the others threw +themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning found the outfit +astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon and remuda were +started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping instructions were +merely a repetition of previous consignments, and the train had barely +left the station when the cavalcade rode to overtake the commissary. + +The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest was +allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the cook and +wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below headquarters. +We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the creek. Our only +round-up to-morrow will be well above the old winter corral. It's our +last gathering of beef, and we want to make a general round-up of the +range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so that it'll be late when we +reach camp." + +The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted the +Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that spring, was +less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering off there, the +drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and a general drift +begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits of the range, pointed +the cattle into the valley, and by moving forward and converging as the +evening advanced, a general drift was maintained. The pace was barely +that of grazing, and as darkness approached, all cattle on the lower end +of the range were grazed safely above the night camp and left adrift. + +The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and threes. +There was little danger of the cattle returning to their favorite range +during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an early hour in the +morning the drag-net was again thrown out from camp. Headquarters was +passed before the horsemen began encountering any quantity of cattle, +and after passing the old winter corral, the men on the points of the +half-circle were sent to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the +middle of the forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle +naturally turned into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete +circles brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle. + +Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner was +waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders rang out. +"Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh horses," said +Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and cutting out will +be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the beeves, and that will turn +the rest of us free to watch the round-up and cut out." + +By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to cut out +the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, while Sargent +and an assistant would confine their selections to the single-wintered +ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally his own work, even +car-loads were required, and a total would constitute the shipment. The +cutting out began quietly; but after a nucleus of beeves were selected, +their numbers gained at the rate of three to five a minute, while the +sweat began to reek from the horses. + +Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his services +to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was relieved from +guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of Manly. A steady +stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a comparison of figures was +made. Manly was limited to one hundred and twenty head, completing an +even thousand shipped from the brand, and lacking four, was allowed to +complete his number. Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim +the general herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was +all that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference resulted +in cutting two loads extra. + +"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said Sargent, as he +dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. "Any aged steers +left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their way to hold another +year. Turn the round-up adrift." + +After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general herd up +the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in corralling +his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the beeves were +grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a night at headquarters +in some time, the wagon serving as a substitute, and orders for evening +freed all hands except two men on herd with the beeves. + +The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel and +Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting the main +herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and relieved from +further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, were arranged for the +night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up the creek and freed near +Hackberry Grove, and on returning to overtake the beeves, the two +horsemen crossed a spur of the tableland, jutting into the valley, +affording a perfect view of the surrounding country. + +With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to a halt. +Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the plain, hung an +ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a glance. + +Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the Republican," +said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from Ogalalla. The +pitch of their dust shows they're trailing south." + +The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running train +and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a distance, pitches +upward from a horizon line, and the moving direction of train or herd is +easily read by an observant plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed +on reaching headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, +the latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the +new trail. + +The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. He +protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, even to +looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said he, "and it's +up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering around all summer +with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, I'll take orders from no +one. We made rather a forced drive from the Republican, and I want a +good night's rest for both the herd and myself. Ten o'clock in the +morning will be early enough to tender the cattle for delivery. In the +mean time, our pilot, the red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. +As for myself, I'm going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls +or wakes me in the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a +right smart of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling." + +Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the herd in +presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves were grazed +up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged for the night, +which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a matter of precaution, a +dead-line must be maintained between the wintered and the through +cattle; and as Manly was to remain another year, he and an assistant +were detailed to stay at headquarters. A reduced mount of horses was +allowed them, and starting the beeves at daybreak, the wagon and remuda +followed several hours later. + +The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon when the +through herd was reached, grazed and watered to surfeiting, and a single +glance satisfied Joel Wells that the cattle fully met every requirement. +The question of age was disposed of as easily as that of quality. + +"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the foreman, +"and each age was held separate until the herds were made up. I started +with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, with ten head +extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our count on leaving +Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing to class or count +them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the herd." + +Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the scattered +cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a straight +count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived his intent to +classify the cattle. + +"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm going to +class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and Manly count +against Sargent and myself." + +A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing formation, +the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the open the +difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance in quieting +the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and the count +attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off a number of +the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. Thereafter, the trail +outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, who sat their horses in +speechless intensity, as the column filed through at random. Each man +used a string, containing ten knots, checking the hundreds by slipping +the knots, and when the last hoof had passed in review, the quiet of a +long hour was relieved by a general shout, when the trail outfit dashed +up to know the result. + +"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as the +quartette rode together. + +"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in for good +measure. What's your count?" + +"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered Sargent, +turning to Joel. + +"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy. + +The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young fellow," said +he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. If you bought these +cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be safe in receiving them. +We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and fifteen hundred threes, and +any overplus falls to the red-headed pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud +would call a Texas count and classification. Shake out your horses; +dinner's waiting." + +There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an assistant, and +an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of whom volunteered from +the through outfit. The foreman was invited to move up to headquarters +and rest to his heart's content, but in his anxiety to report to his +employer, the invitation was declined. + +"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the railroad +until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do is to get in +touch with my Uncle Dudley." + +"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" sputtered Manly, +as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the beef herd. + +"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If this +shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City and pick +up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. Until you see +or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your cattle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INDEPENDENCE + + +The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the beeves. +Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, and on the +arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in classifying it +for market and corralling the different grades of cattle. + +Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment was +safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the morning. +An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a wire from the +west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the telegram to Joel; +"wants all three of us to come into the city." + +"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear enough. +There's an understanding between us. At the earliest convenience, after +the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and draw up the final papers. +We'll all go in with this shipment." + +"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?" + +"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the cattle +train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the outfits at +the new trail market." + +"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of riding +horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and let me put +my little feet under a table once more." + +The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The outfits +received their orders, and at the usual hour in the morning, the +shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a saddle, Dell was +walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper in charge, riding on +the engine, or hungering for the rare stories with which the trail +foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed like a brief hour, the +train threading its way past corn fields, country homes, and scorning to +halt at the many straggling villages that dotted the route. + +It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The present, +their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen hundred +beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their operations in +cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, could be condensed +into a simple statement. The brothers could barely wait the intervening +hours, and when the train reached the market and they had retired for +the night, speculation ran rife in planning the future. And amid all +their dreams and air castles, in the shadowy background stood two simple +men whose names were never mentioned except in terms of loving +endearment. + +Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. "They're all +good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a prince. He gave us our +start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we can never pay it. And he +never owned a hoof himself." + +"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us our +chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of making bound +boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are to-day." + +"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves by the +train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand." + +An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had crossed +the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place during the +afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. The execution of +a new contract was a mere detail; but when the chief bookkeeper handed +in a statement covering the shipments of this and the previous year, a +lull in the gayety was followed by a moment of intense interest. The +account showed a balance of sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of +Wells Brothers! + +"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. Stoddard, +amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; we're all going out +to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains on that market, and the +boys want to stock their range fully." + +"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. "And if +the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't hesitate to +draw on us. The manner in which they have protected their credit +entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come first. Their +prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies before you boys, and +we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in touch with us; we may +hear of something to your advantage." + +"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring Texas cattle +into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel. + +"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not be able +to, but in securing business, railroads look years ahead." + +A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning found +their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old trail market +of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild sunflower, was +passed like a way station. The new market was only a mile over the state +line, in Colorado, and on nearing their destination the party +drew together. + +"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, "and I want +you to understand that there's no obligation to even look at them. Mr. +Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men have not been seen +since the herds passed north in June. But I'll help you buy any cattle +you want." + +In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following their +fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape up our +holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For that reason, we +prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your remnant; there would be +no occasion to rebrand, which is an advantage." + +The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the outer +portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. The Arkansas +River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to the main stream, +affording abundant water to the herds on sale, while a bountiful range +surrounded the market. Shipping pens, branding chutes, and every +facility for handling cattle were complete. + +The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean time, it +became rumored about that the two boys who had returned with Mr. +Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of cattle. The +presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of protection around the +brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who were made acquainted with +his protgs and their errand freely discussed. + +"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a group of +his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and another at +Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest Kansas. Just +shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had them on +yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about three +thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter of credit is +good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle myself. They +naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an interest in the boys. +Their outfit ought to be in by to-morrow." + +Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, and every +attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a morning's +drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been carefully looked +over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only a few herds possessed +their original numbers, none of which were acceptable to the buyers, +while the smaller ones frequently contained the desired grade and age. + +"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. Stoddard, +in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are tired out, +disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if you'll buy out our +little remnants and send us home--well, we'd almost let you name the +price. Unless my herds are under contract, this is my last year on +the trail." + +The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred head. +They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and as an +inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser age, and +priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the Beaver. On +range markets, there was a difference in the selling value of the two +ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as one third of the cattle +would have classed as threes, Joel waived his objection to their ages. + +"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your outfits +home, but you hang around until we make up our herd." + +"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice would be +to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer makes them all +alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come out of the kinks, +and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps your cattle quiet and on +the home range. You might keep an eye open for any bargains in +she stuff." + +"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought to have +a cow to every ten or fifteen steers." + +"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and knows cattle +right down to the split in their hoof. With his and your judgment, we +ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few days." + +The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The next +morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the through +outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a detail, and the +remainder of the men sent home by rail. In acquiring a nucleus, Wells +Brothers fell heir to a temporary range and camp, which thereafter +became their headquarters. + +A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to Sargent, +and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his best efforts to +bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in earnest, on the +different fragments acceptable in age and quality. Prices on range +cattle were nearly standard, at least established for the present, and +any yielding on the part of drovers was in classing and conceding ages. +Bargaining began on the smaller remnants, and once the buyers began to +receive and brand, there was a flood of offerings, and the herd was made +up the second day. The ---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast +as received, and when completed, the herd numbered a few over +thirty-four hundred head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings +was not overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased. + +"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but we're only +going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had better hold +over the line in Colorado until after the first frost." + +"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's sure." + +"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that will take +us home, with or without a bill of health." + +The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and the herd +started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week later it crossed +the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the herd, returning to their +local station. A haying outfit was engaged, placed under the direction +of Manly, and after spending a few days at headquarters, the young +cowman returned to the railroad. + +The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight danger in +using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; and after a +conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the country between +their range and the Colorado line. The first herd of cattle had located +nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the dead-line; and taking a +pack horse, Joel and Manly started to explore the country between the +upper tributaries of the Beaver and the Colorado line. + +A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of the first +day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of which was +back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On resuming their scout +in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, admitting of an immense survey +of country, but not until evening was water in any quantity encountered. +The scouts were beginning to despair of finding water for the night, +when an immense herd of antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an +easy gallop and disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game +trail, a perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. +A venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured. + +The glare of the plain required early observation. The white haze, heat +waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out distinct objects +during the day. On leaving the friendly sand hills, the horsemen bore +directly for the timber on the Republican, which was sighted the third +morning, and reached the river by noon. + +No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the new and +old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging from their +hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new crossing on the +river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented observations; and as +they followed the high ground along the Republican, at early evening +indistinct objects were made out on the border of a distant mirage. + +The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the optical +illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, forests and +white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn aside and rest. But +the allurement of the mirage was an old story, and holding the objects +in view, they jogged on, halting from time to time as the +illusions lifted. + +Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, the +objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted Manly. +"We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!" + +"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the valley! +above that motte of cotton-woods!" + +"It's a camp! Come on!" + +The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the scouts +advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was noticeable, and on a +far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. On reaching the cattle, a +single glance was given, when the brands told the remainder of +the story. + +A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, and after +hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: "After leaving +the Republican," said he, "there's water between here and home in two +places. None of them are over thirty miles apart--a day and a half's +drive. I have a bill of health for these cattle, and turn the herd down +the river in the morning." + +The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. The herd +had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water in abundance, +the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from home. There was no +object in waiting any great distance from headquarters, and after a +day's travel down the Republican, a tack was made for the sand hills. + +A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, followed by +a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had been sighted was +reached at evening the next day. + +It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was decided to +isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp was within easy +touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five men, the commissary, +and half the remuda, the remainder returned to the Beaver valley. The +water would hold the cattle, and even if a month elapsed before frost +lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy every freedom. + +The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the Republican +were paid for their services, commended for their faithfulness, and went +their way. Preparations for winter were the next concern; and while +holding the dead-line, plans for two new line-camps were outlined, one +below the old trail crossing and the other an emergency shelter on the +Prairie Dog. Forage had been provided at both points, and in outlining +the winter lines, Joel submitted his idea for Manly's approval. + +"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the Beaver +valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his feet. "We'll +have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break through during a +storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the Prairie Dog. In case +that line is broken, we can drop down to the railroad and make another +attempt to check any drift. And as a last resort, whether we hold the +line or not, we'll send an outfit as far south as the Arkansas River, +and attend the spring round-ups from there north to the Republican. We +have the horses and men, and no one can throw out a wider drag-net than +our outfit. Let the winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead +when spring comes." + +The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except in its +new environment, their occupation was as old as the human race, our +heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They belonged to a +period in the development of our common country, dating from a day when +cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth of our national domain. They +and their kind were our pioneers, our empire builders; for when a cowman +pushed into some primal valley and possessed it with his herd, his ranch +became an outpost on our frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their +ranges were controlled without investment, their cattle roamed the +virgin pastures of an unowned land. + +Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the course +of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and uncertain +outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but have arisen +triumphant over every storm. From their humble beginning, chronicled +here, within two decades the brothers acquired no less than seven +ranches in the Northwest, while their holdings of cattle often ran in +excess of one hundred thousand head. The trail passed away within two +years of the close of this narrative; but from their wide acquaintance +with former drovers, cattle with which to restock their ranches were +brought north by rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring +trusty men; and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors +found ready employment with their former protgs. And to-day, in the +many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the arid +regions, among the directors of their companies the names of J.Q. +Forrest and John P. Priest may be found. + +A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis of the +West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, gave way to +the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler crept up the valley, +was repulsed again and again by the plain, only to renew his assault +until success crowned his efforts. It was then that the brothers saw +their day and dominion passing into the hands of another. But instead of +turning to new fields, they remained with the land that nurtured and +rewarded them, an equally promising field opening in financing vast +irrigation enterprises and in conserving the natural water supply. + +Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes wrested from +the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of life, while the +opportunities of a thrifty country invite their assistance and +leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested in every +development of their state, preferring those avenues where heroic +endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the political arena. + +Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure of +personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, famed +for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, paid one of +our heroes the following tribute:-- + +"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive chair. We +are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state seems adrift, +without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In casting about for a +governor who would fully meet all requirements, one name stands alone. +Joel Wells can give M---- a business administration. Educated in the +rough school of experience, he has fought his way up from a poor boy on +the plains to an enviable leadership in the many industries of the +state. He could bring to the executive office every requirement of the +successful business man, and impart to his administration that mastery +which marks every enterprise of Wells Brothers...." + +The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to adorn +this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his chance in +life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. Material nature is +prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass under our feet, or in +harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our success. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 12791-8.txt or 12791-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/old/12791-8.zip b/old/old/12791-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bf0ff6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/12791-8.zip diff --git a/old/old/12791.txt b/old/old/12791.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6c405e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/12791.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8257 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Wells Brothers + +Author: Andy Adams + +Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12791] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Charlie Kirschner and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 12791-h.htm or 12791-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791/12791-h/12791-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791/12791-h.zip) + + + + + +WELLS BROTHERS + +The Young Cattle Kings + +by + +ANDY ADAMS + +1911 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON (p.26)] + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + III. THE BOTTOM RUNG + IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + V. A FALL OF CRUMBS + VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK +VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + X. GOOD FIGHTING + XI. HOLDING THE FORT + XII. A WINTER DRIFT +XIII. A WELCOME GUEST + XIV. AN ILL WIND + XV. WATER! WATER! + XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT +XVII. "THE WAGON" +XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER + XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE + XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE + XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE + XXII. INDEPENDENCE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WAIFS OF THE PLAIN + + +The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for the +Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran drover, +Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway between the +former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious mishap befell +Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and the horse wrangler, +who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, reckless to the point of +injury, the pulse of healthy manhood beating a constant alarm to +rough contest. + +The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had overtaken +the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. During the evening, +a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when the stranger expressed a +wish to secure a specimen of the bird for its splendid plumage. On +Forrest's own suggestion, his being a long-range pistol and the covey +wary, the two exchanged belts. The visitor followed the flock, stealing +within range a number of times, and emptying the six-shooter at every +chance. On securing a fine specimen near nightfall, he returned to the +herd, elated over his chance shot and beautiful trophy. However, before +returning the belt, he had refilled the cylinder with six instead of +five cartridges, thus resting the hammer on a loaded shell. In the +enthusiasm of the moment, and ignorant of its danger, belt and pistol +were returned to their owner. + +Dawn found the camp astir. The sun had flooded the plain while the +outfit was breakfasting, the herd was grazing forward in pastoral +contentment, the horses stood under saddle for the morning's work, when +the trail foreman, Paul Priest, languidly remarked: "If everybody's +ready, we'll ride. Fill the canteens; it's high time we were in the +saddle. Of course, that means the parting tussle between Quince and the +wrangler. It would be a shame to deny those lads anything so enjoyable-- +they remind me so much of mule colts and half-grown dogs. Now, cut in +and worry each other a spell, because you'll be separated until noon. +Fly at it, or we mount." + +The two addressed never cast a glance at each other, but as the men +swung into their saddles, the horse wrangler, with the agility of a +tiger, caught his bunkie in the act of mounting, dragging him to the +ground, when the expected scuffle ensued. The outfit had barely time to +turn their horses, to witness the contest, when the two crashed against +the wagon wheel and Forrest's pistol was discharged. The men dismounted +instantly, the wrangler eased the victim to the ground, and when the +outfit gathered around, the former was smothering the burning clothing +of his friend and bunkmate. A withdrawn boot, dripping with blood, was +the first indication of the havoc wrought, and on stripping it was found +that the bullet had ploughed an open furrow down the thigh, penetrating +the calf of the leg from knee to ankle, where it was fortunately +deflected outward and into the ground. + +The deepest of regret was naturally expressed. The jocular remarks of +the foreman, the actions of the wrangler, were instantly recalled to the +surrounding group, while the negligence which caused the accident was +politely suppressed. The stranger, innocently unaware of any mistake on +his part, lent a valuable hand in stanching the blood and in washing and +binding up the wounds. No bones were injured, and with youth and a +buoyant constitution, there was every hope of recovery. + +However, some disposition must be made of the wounded man. No one could +recall a house or settlement nearer than the Republican River, unless +down the Beaver, which was uncertain, when the visitor came to the +rescue. He was positive that some two years before, an old soldier had +taken a homestead five or six miles above the trail crossing on the +Beaver. He was insistent, and the foreman yielded so far as to order the +herd grazed forward to the Beaver, which was some ten miles distant in +their front. All the blankets in the outfit were accordingly brought +into use, in making a comfortable bed in the wagon, and the caravan +started, carrying the wounded man with it. Taking the stranger with him, +the foreman bore away in the direction of the supposed homestead, having +previously sent two men on an opposite angle, in search of any +settlement down the creek. + +The visitor's knowledge of the surrounding country proved to be correct. +About six miles above the trail crossing, the Beaver, fringed with +willows, meandered through a narrow valley, in which the homestead was +located. The presence of the willows was an indication of old beaver +dams, which the settler had improved until the water stood in long, +placid pools. In response to their hail, two boys, about fourteen and +sixteen years of age, emerged from the dug-out and greeted the horsemen. +On inquiry, it proved that their father had died during the previous +winter, at a settlement on the Solomon River, and the boys were then +confronted with the necessity of leaving the claim to avoid suffering +want. It was also learned that their mother had died before their father +had taken the homestead, and therefore they were left orphans to fight +their own battle. + +The boys gave their names as Joel and Dell Wells. Both were bright-eyed +and alert, freckled from the sun, ragged and healthy. Joel was the +oldest, broad-shouldered for his years, distant by nature, with a shock +of auburn hair, while Dell's was red; in height, the younger was the +equal of his brother, talkative, and frank in countenance. When made +acquainted with the errand of the trail boss, the older boy shook his +head, but Dell stepped forward: "Awful sorry," said he, with a sweep of +his hand, "but our garden failed, and there won't be a dozen +roasting-ears in that field of corn. If hot winds don't kill it, it +might make fodder. We expect to pull out next week." + +"Have you no cows?" inquired the trail foreman. + +"We had two, but the funeral expenses took them, and then pa's pension +was stopped. You see--" + +"I see," said the trail foreman, dismounting. "Possibly we can help each +other. Our wagon is well provisioned. If you'll shelter and nurse this +wounded man of mine--" + +"We can't winter here," said Joel, stepping forward, "and the sooner we +get out and find work the better." + +"Oh, I was figuring on paying you wages," countered the trail man, now +aware of their necessity, "and I suppose you could use a quarter +of beef." + +"Oh goodness," whispered Dell to his brother; "think, fresh meat." + +"And I'll give each of you twenty-five dollars a month--leave the money +with my man or pay you in advance. If you say the word, I'll unload my +wagon right here, and grub-stake you for two months. I can get more +provision at the Republican River, and in the mean time, something +may turn up." + +The stranger also dismounted and took part in urging the necessity of +accepting the offer. Dell brightened at every suggestion, but his +brother was tactful, questioning and combating the men, and looking +well to the future. A cold and unfriendly world, coupled with +misfortune, had aged the elder boy beyond his years, while the younger +one was sympathetic, trustful, and dependent. + +"Suppose we are delayed in reaching the Solomon until fall," said Dell +to his brother; "that will put us into the settlements in time for +corn-shucking. If you get six-bits a day, I'm surely worth fifty cents." + +"Suppose there is no corn to shuck," replied Joel. "Suppose this wounded +man dies on our hands? What then? Haven't you heard pa tell how soldiers +died from slight wounds?--from blood-poisoning? If we have to go, we +might as well go at once." + +According to his light, the boy reasoned well. But when the wayfaring +man had most skillfully retold the story of the Good Samaritan, the +older boy relented somewhat, while Dell beamed with enthusiasm at the +opportunity of rendering every assistance. + +"It isn't because we don't want to help you," protested Joel, but it's +because we're so poor and have nothing to offer." + +"You have health and willing hands," said the trail boss; "let me do the +rest." + +"But suppose he doesn't recover as soon as expected," cautiously +protested Joel, "where are we to get further provision?" + +"Good suggestion," assented the trail foreman. "But here: I'll leave two +good horses in your care for the wounded man, and all you need to do is +to ride down to the trail, hail any passing herd, and simply tell them +you are harboring a crippled lad, one of Don Lovell's boys, and you can +levy on them for all they have. It's high time you were getting +acquainted with these trail outfits. Shelter this man of mine, and all +will come out well in the end. Besides, I'll tell old man Don about you +boys, and he might take you home to his ranch with him. He has no boys, +and he might take a fancy to you two." + +Dell's eyes moistened at the suggestion of a home. The two brothers +reentered the dug-out, and the men led their horses down to the creek +for a drink. A span of poor old mules stood inside a wooden corral, a +rickety wagon and a few rusty farming implements were scattered about, +while over all the homestead was the blight of a merciless +summer drouth. + +"What a pretty little ranch this would make," said the trail boss to the +stranger. "If these boys had a hundred cows, with this water and range, +in a few years they would be independent men. No wonder that oldest boy +is cautious. Just look around and see the reward of their father's and +their own labor. Their very home denies them bread." + +"Did you notice the older boy brighten," inquired the visitor, "when you +suggested leaving horses in their care? It was the only argument that +touched him." + +"Then I'll use it," said the trail boss, brightening. "We have several +cow horses in our remuda, unfit for saddle,--galled backs and the +like,--and if these boys would care for them, I'll make their hungry +hearts happy. Care and attention and a month's rest would make the +ponies as sound as a dollar. You suggest my giving them each a saddle +pony; argue the matter, and try and win me over." + +The men retraced their steps, leading their horses, and when scarcely +halfway from the creek to the dug-out, Dell ran down to meet them. "If +you can spare us a few blankets and a pillow," earnestly said the boy, +"we'll take the wounded man. He's liable to be feverish at night, and +ought to have a pillow. Joel and I can sleep outside or in the stable." + +"Hurrah for the Wells boys!" shouted the trail boss. "Hereafter I'll bet +my money, horse and saddle, on a red-headed boy. Blankets? Why, you can +have half a dozen, and as to pillows, watch me rob the outfit. I have a +rubber one, there are several moss ones, and I have a lurking suspicion +that there are a few genuine goose-hair pillows in the outfit, and you +may pick and choose. They are all yours for the asking." + +The men parleyed around some little time, offering pretexts for entering +the shack, the interior of which bespoke its own poverty. When all +agreements had been reviewed, the men mounted their horses, promising to +fulfill their part of the covenant that afternoon or evening. + +Once out of hearing, the stranger remarked: "That oldest boy is all +right; it was their poverty that caused him to hesitate; he tried to +shield their want. We men don't always understand boys. Hereafter, in +dealing with Joel, you must use some diplomacy. The death of his parents +has developed a responsibility in the older boy which the younger one +doesn't feel. That's about all the difference in the two lads. You must +deal gently with Joel, and never offend him or expose his needs." + +"Trust me," replied the foreman, "and I'll coach Quince--that's the name +of the wounded man. Within an hour, he'll be right at home with those +boys. If nothing serious happens to his wound, within a week he'll have +those youngsters walking on clouds." + +The two men rode out of the valley, when they caught sight of a dust +cloud, indicating the locality of the trailing herd, then hidden behind +the last divide before reaching Beaver Creek. On every hand the +undulating plain rolled away to low horizons, and the men rode forward +at a leisurely pace. + +"I've been thinking of those boys," suddenly said the trail foreman, +arousing himself from a reverie. "They're to be pitied. This government +ought to be indicted for running a gambling game, robbing children, +orphan children of a soldier, at that. There's a fair sample of the skin +game the government's running--bets you one hundred and sixty acres +against fourteen dollars you can't hold down a homestead for five years. +And big as the odds look, in nine cases out of ten, in this country, the +government wins. It ought to be convicted on general principles. Men are +not to be pitied, but it's a crime against women and children." + +"Oh, you cowmen always rail at the settler," retorted the stranger; "you +would kick if you were being hung. There's good in everything. A few +years of youthful poverty, once they reach manhood, isn't going to hurt +those boys. The school of experience has its advantages." + +"If it's convenient, let's keep an eye on those boys the next few +years," said the trail boss, catching sight of his remuda. "Now, there's +the wagon. Suppose you ride down to the Beaver and select a good camp, +well above the trail crossing, and I'll meet the commissary and herd. +We'll have to lay over this afternoon, which will admit of watering the +herd twice to-day. Try and find some shade." + +The men separated, riding away on different angles. The foreman hailed +his wagon, found the victim resting comfortably, and reported securing a +haven for the wounded man. Instructing his cook to watch for a signal, +at the hands of the stranger, indicating a camp on the creek, he turned +and awaited the arrival of the lead cattle of the trailing column. +Issuing orders to cover the situation, he called off half the men, first +veering the herd to the nearest water, and rode to overtake his wagon +and saddle horses. + +Beaver Creek was barely running water, with an occasional long pool. A +hedge of willows was interwoven, Indian fashion, from which a tarpaulin +was stretched to the wagon bows, forming a sheltered canopy. Amid a fire +of questions, the wounded man was lifted from the wagon. + +"Are you sure there isn't a woman at this nester's shack," said he +appealingly to the bearers of the blanket stretcher. "If there is, I +ain't going. Paul, stand squarely in front of me, where I can see your +eyes. After what I've been handed lately, it makes me peevish. I want to +feel the walnut juice in your hand clasp. Now, tell it all over +once more." + +The stranger was artfully excused, to select a beef, after which the +foreman sat down beside his man, giving him all the details and making +valuable suggestions. He urged courteous treatment of their guest while +he remained; that there was nothing to be gained, after the accident, by +insult to a visitor, and concluded by praising the boys and bespeaking +their protection. + +The wounded man was Southern by birth and instinct, and knew that the +hospitality of ranch and road and camp was one and the same. "Very +well," said he, "but in this instance, remember it's my calf that's +gored. Serves me right, though, kittening up to every stranger that +comes along. I must be getting tired of you slatterly cow hands." He +hesitated a moment. "The one thing I like," he continued, "about this +nester layout is those red-headed boys. And these two are just about +petting age. I can almost see them eating sugar out of my hand." + +After dinner, and now that a haven was secured, the question of medical +aid was considered. The couriers down the Beaver had returned and +reported no habitation in that direction. Fortunately the destination of +the stranger was a settlement on the Republican River, and he +volunteered to ride through that afternoon and night and secure a +surgeon. Frontier physicians were used to hundred-mile calls. The owner +of the herd, had he been present, would have insisted on medical +attention, the wounded man reluctantly consented, and the stranger, +carrying a hastily written letter to Mr. Lovell, took his departure. + +Early evening found the patient installed, not in the dug-out, but in a +roomy tent. A quarter of beef hung on a willow, the one-room shack was +bountifully provisioned, while the foreman remained to await the arrival +of a physician. The day had brought forth wonders to Joel and Dell--from +the dark hour of want to the dawn of plenty, while the future was a +sealed book. In addition to the promised horses, Forrest's saddle hung +in the sod stable, while two extra ponies aroused the wonder of the +questioning boys. + +"I just brought these two along," explained the foreman, "as their backs +were galled during a recent rainy spell. You can see they are unfit for +saddle, but with a little attention can be cured--I'll show you how. You +have an abundance of water, and after I leave, wash their backs, morning +and evening, and they'll be well in a month. Since you are running a +trail hospital, you want to cater to man and beast. Of course, if you +boys nurse this man through to health and strength, I'll make an appeal +to Mr. Lovell to give you these ponies. They'll come in handy, in case +you return to the Solomon, or start a little cattle ranch here." + +The sun set in benediction on the little homestead. The transformation +seemed magical. Even the blight of summer drouth was toned and tempered +by the shadows of evening. The lesson of the day had filled empty hearts +with happiness, and when darkness fell, the boys threw off all former +reserve, and the bond of host and guest was firmly established. Forrest, +even, cemented the tie, by dividing any needful attention between +the boys. + +"Do you know," said he to the foreman indifferently, in the presence of +the lads, "that I was thinking of calling the oldest one Doc and the +youngest one Nurse, but now I'm going to call them just plain Joel and +Dell, and they can call me Mr. Quince. Honor bright, I never met a boy +who can pour water on a wound, that seems to go to the right spot, like +Dell Wells. One day with another, give me a red-headed boy." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER + + +The patient passed a feverish night. Priest remained on watch in the +tent, but on several occasions aroused the boys, as recourse to pouring +water was necessary to relieve the pain. The limb had reached a swollen +condition by morning, and considerable anxiety was felt over the +uncertainty of a physician arriving. If summoned the previous evening, +it was possible that one might arrive by noon, otherwise there was no +hope before evening or during the night. + +"Better post a guide on the trail," suggested Joel. "If a doctor comes +from the Republican, we can pilot him across the prairie and save an +hour's time. There's a dim wagon trail runs from here to the first +divide, north of the trail crossing on Beaver. Pa used it when he went +to Culbertson to draw his pension. It would save the doctor a six or +seven mile drive." + +"Now, that suggestion is to the point," cheerfully assented the trail +foreman. "The herd will noon on the first divide, and we can post the +boys of the cut-off. They'll surely meet the doctor this afternoon or +evening. Corral the horses, and I'll shorten up the stirrup straps on +Forrest's saddle. Who will we send?" + +"I'll go," said Dell, jumping at the opportunity. He had admired the +horses and heavy Texas saddles the evening previous, and now that a +chance presented itself, his eyes danced at the prospect. "Why, I can +follow a dim wagon track," he added. "Joel and I used to go halfway to +the divide, to meet pa when he bought us new boots." + +"I'll see who can best be spared," replied Priest. "Your patient seems +to think that no one can pour water like you. Besides, there will be +plenty of riding to do, and you'll get your share." + +The foreman delayed shortening the stirrup straps until after the horse +stood saddled, when he adjusted the lacings as an object lesson to the +boys. Both rode the same length of stirrup, mounting the horse to be +fitted, and when reduced to the proper length, Dell was allowed to ride +past the tent for inspection. + +"There's the making of a born cowman," said Forrest, as Dell halted +before the open tent. "It's an absolute mistake to think that that boy +was ever intended for a farmer. Notice his saddle poise, will you, +Paul? Has a pretty foot, too, even if it is slightly sun-burned. We must +get him some boots. With that red hair, he never ought to ride any other +horse than a black stallion." + +When the question arose as to which of the boys was to be sent to +intercept the moving herd and await the doctor, Forrest decided the +matter. "I'll have to send Joel," said he, "because I simply can't spare +Dell. The swelling has benumbed this old leg of mine, and we'll have to +give it an occasional rubbing to keep the circulation up. There's where +Dell has the true touch; actually he reminds me of my mother. She could +tie a rag around a sore toe, in a way that would make a boy forget all +his trouble. Hold Joel a minute." + +The sound of a moving horse had caught the ear of the wounded man, and +when the older boy dismounted at the tent opening, he continued: "Now, +Joel, don't let that cow outfit get funny with you. Show them the brand +on that horse you're riding, and give them distinctly to understand, +even if you are barefooted, that you are one of Don Lovell's men. Of +course you don't know him, but with that old man, it's love me, love my +dog. Get your dinner with the outfit, and watch for a dust cloud in the +south. There's liable to be another herd along any day, and we'll need +a cow." + +Forrest was nearly forty, while Priest was fully fifty years of age; +neither had ever had children of his own, and their hearts went out in +manly fullness to these waifs of the plain. On the other hand, a day had +brought forth promise and fulfillment, from strangers, to the boys, +until the latter's confidence knew no bounds. At random, the men +virtually spoke of the cattle on a thousand hills, until the boys fully +believed that by merely waving a wand, the bells would tinkle and a cow +walk forth. Where two horses were promised, four had appeared. Where +their little store of provision was as good as exhausted, it had been +multiplied many fold. Where their living quarters were threatened with +intrusion, a tent, with fly, was added; all of which, as if by magic, +had risen out of a dip in the plain. + +There was no danger, at the hands of the trail men, of any discourtesy +to Joel, but to relieve any timidity, the foreman saddled his horse and +accompanied the boy a mile or more, fully reviewing the details of his +errand. Left behind, and while rubbing the wounded limb, Dell regaled +his patient with a scrap of family history. "Pa never let us boys go +near the trail," said he. "It seemed like he was afraid of you Texas +men; afraid your cattle would trample down our fields and drink up all +our water. The herds were so big." + +"Suppose the cattle would drink the water," replied Forrest, "the owner +would pay for it, which would be better than letting it go to waste. One +day's hot winds would absorb more water than the biggest herd of cattle +could drink. This ain't no farming country." + +"That's so," admitted Dell; "we only had one mess of peas this season, +and our potatoes aren't bigger than marbles. Now, let me rub your knee, +there where the bullet skipped, between the bandages." + +The rubbing over, Forrest pressed home the idea of abandoning farming +for cattle ranching. "What your father ought to have done," said he, +"was to have made friends with the Texas drovers; given them the water, +with or without price, and bought any cripples or sore-footed cattle. +Nearly every herd abandons more or less cattle on these long drives, and +he could have bought them for a song and sung it himself. The buffalo +grass on the divides and among these sand hills is the finest winter +grazing in the country. This water that you are wasting would have +yearly earned you one hundred head of cripples. A month's rest on this +creek and they would kick up their heels and play like calves. After +one winter on this range, they would get as fat as plover. Your father +missed his chance by not making friends with the Texas trail men." + +"Do you think so?" earnestly said Dell. + +"I know it," emphatically asserted the wounded man. "Hereafter, you and +Joel want to be friendly with these drovers and their men. Cast your +bread upon the waters." + +"Mother used to read that to us," frankly admitted Dell. There was a +marked silence, only broken by a clatter of hoofs, and the trail boss +cantered up to the tent. + +"That wagon track," said he, dismounting, "is little more than a dim +trail. Sorry I didn't think about it sooner, but we ought to have built +a smudge fire where this road intersects the cattle trail. In case the +doctor doesn't reach there by noon, I sent orders to fly a flag at the +junction, and Joel to return home. But if the doctor doesn't reach there +until after darkness, he'll never see the flag, and couldn't follow the +trail if he did. We'll have to send Joel back." + +"It's my turn," said Dell. "I know how to build a smudge fire; build it +in a circle, out of cattle chips, in the middle of the road." + +"You're a willing boy," said Priest, handing the bridle reins to Dell, +"but we'll wait until Joel returns. You may water my horse and turn him +in the corral." + +The day wore on, and near the middle of the afternoon Joel came riding +in. He had waited fully an hour after the departure of the herd, a flag +had been left unfurled at the junction, and all other instructions +delivered. Both Forrest and Priest knew the distance to the ford on the +Republican, and could figure to an hour, by different saddle gaits, the +necessary time to cover the distance, even to Culbertson. Still there +was a measure of uncertainty: the messenger might have lost his way; +there might not have been any physician within call; accidents might +have happened to horse or rider,--and one hour wore away, followed +by another. + +Against his will, Dell was held under restraint until six o'clock. "It's +my intention to follow him within an hour," said the foreman, as the boy +rounded a bluff and disappeared. "He can build the fire as well as any +one, and we'll return before midnight. That'll give the doctor the last +minute and the benefit of every doubt." + +The foreman's mount stood saddled, and twilight had settled over the +valley, when the occupants of the tent were startled by the neigh of a +horse. "That's Rowdy," said Forrest; "he always nickers when he sights a +wagon or camp. Dell's come." + +Joel sprang to the open front. "It's Dell, and there's a buckboard +following," he whispered. A moment later the vehicle rattled up, led by +the irrepressible Dell, as if in charge of a battery of artillery. "This +is the place, Doctor," said he, as if dismissing a troop from +cavalry drill. + +The physician proved to be a typical frontier doctor. He had left +Culbertson that morning, was delayed in securing a relay team at the +ford on the Republican, and still had traveled ninety miles since +sunrise. "If it wasn't for six-shooters in this country," said he, as he +entered the tent, "we doctors would have little to do. Your men with the +herd told me how the accident happened." Then to Forrest, "Son, think +it'll ever happen again?" + +"Yes, unless you can cure a fool from lending his pistol," replied +Forrest. + +"Certainly. I've noticed that similarity in all gunshot wounds: they +usually offer good excuses. It's healing in its nature," commented the +doctor, as he began removing the bandages. As the examination proceeded, +there was a running comment maintained, bordering on the humorous. + +"If there's no extra charge," said Forrest, "I wish you would allow the +boys to see the wounds. You might also deliver a short lecture on the +danger of carrying the hammer of a pistol on a loaded cartridge. The +boys are young and may take the lesson seriously, but you're wasting +good breath on me. Call the boys--I'm an old dog." + +"Gunshot wounds are the only crop in this country," continued the +doctor, ignoring the request, "not affected by the drouth. There's an +occasional outbreak of Texas fever among cattle, but that's not in my +department. Well, that bullet surely was hungry for muscle, but +fortunately it had a distaste for bone. This is just a simple case of +treatment and avoiding complications. Six weeks to two months and you +can buckle on your six-shooter again. Hereafter, better wear it on the +other side, and if another accident occurs, it'll give you a hitch in +each leg and level you up." + +"But there may be no fool loafing around to borrow it," protested +Forrest. + +"Never fear, son; the fool's eternal," replied the doctor, with a quiet +wink at the others. + +The presence and unconcern of the old physician dispelled all +uneasiness, and the night passed without anxiety, save between the boys. +Forrest's lecture to Dell during the day, of the importance of making +friends with the drovers, the value of the water, the purchase of +disabled cattle, was all carefully reviewed after the boys were snugly +in bed. "Were you afraid of the men with the herd to-day?--afraid of the +cowboys?" inquired Dell, when the former subject was exhausted. + +"Why, no," replied Joel rather scornfully, from the security of his +bunk; "who would be afraid? They are just like any other folks." + +Dell was skeptical. "Not like the pictures of cowboys?--not shooting and +galloping their horses?" + +"Why, you silly boy," said Joel, with contempt; "there wasn't a shot +fired, their horses were never out of a walk, never wet a hair, and they +changed to fresh ones at noon. The only difference I could see, they +wore their hats at dinner. And they were surely cowboys, because they +had over three thousand big beeves, and had come all the way +from Texas." + +"I wish I could have gone," was Dell's only comment. + +"Oh, it was a great sight," continued the privileged one. "The column of +cattle was a mile long, the trail twice as wide as a city street, and +the cattle seemed to walk in loose marching order, of their own accord. +Not a man carried a whip; no one even shouted; no one as much as looked +at the cattle; the men rode away off yonder. The herd seemed so easy +to handle." + +"And how many men did it take?" insisted Dell. + +"Only eleven with the herd. And they had such queer names for their +places. Those in the lead were _point_ men, those in the middle were +_swing_ men, and the one who brought up the rear was the _drag_ man. +Then there was the cook, who drove the wagon, and the wrangler, who took +care of the horses--over one hundred and forty head. They call the band +of saddle horses the remuda; one of the men told me it was Spanish for +relay--a relay of horses." + +"I'm going the next time," said Dell. "Mr. Quince said he would buy us a +cow from the next herd that passed." + +"These were all big beeves to-day, going to some fort on the Yellowstone +River. And they had such wide, sweeping horns! And the smartest cattle! +An hour before noon one of the point men gave a shrill whistle, and the +whole column of beeves turned aside and began feeding. The men called it +'throwing the herd off the trail to graze.' It was just like saying +_halt_! to soldiers--like we saw at that reunion in Ohio." + +"And you weren't afraid?" timidly queried the younger brother. + +"No one else was afraid, and why should I be? I was on horseback. Stop +asking foolish questions and go to sleep," concluded Joel, with pitying +finality, and turned to the wall. + +"But suppose those big Texas beeves had stampeded, then what?" There was +challenge in Dell's voice, but the brother vouchsafed no answer. A +seniority of years had given one a twelve hours' insight over the other, +in range cattle, and there was no common ground between sleepy +bedfellows to justify further converse. "I piloted in the doctor, +anyhow," said Dell defensively. No reply rewarded his assertion. + +Morning brought little or no change in the condition of the wounds. The +doctor was anxious to return, but Priest urged otherwise. "Let's call it +Sunday," said he, "and not work to-day. Besides, if I overtake the herd, +I'll have to make a hand. Wait until to-morrow, and we'll bear each +other company. If another herd shows up on the trail to-day, it may have +a cow. We must make these boys comfortable." + +The doctor consented to stay over, and amused himself by quarreling with +his patient. During the forenoon Priest and Joel rode out to the +nearest high ground, from which a grove was seen on the upper Beaver. +"That's what we call Hackberry Grove," said Joel, "and where we get our +wood. The creek makes a big bend, and all the bottom land has grown up +with timber, some as big as a man's body. It doesn't look very far away, +but it takes all day to go and come, hauling wood. There's big springs +just above, and the water never fails. That's what makes the trees +so thrifty." + +"Too bad your father didn't start a little ranch here," said Priest, +surveying the scene. "It's a natural cattle range. There are the sand +hills to the south; good winter shelter and a carpet of grass." + +"We were too poor," frankly admitted the boy. "Every fall we had to go +to the Solomon River to hunt work. With pa's pension, and what we could +earn, we held down the homestead. Last fall we proved up; pa's service +in the army counted on the residence required. It doesn't matter now if +we do leave it. All Dell and I have to do is to keep the taxes paid." + +"You would be doing wrong to leave this range," said the trail boss in +fatherly tones. "There's a fortune in this grass, if you boys only had +the cattle to eat it. Try and get a hundred cows on shares, or buy +young steers on a credit." + +"Why, we have no money, and no one would credit boys," ruefully replied +Joel. + +"You have something better than either credit or money," frankly replied +the cowman; "you control this range. Make that the basis of your +beginning. All these cattle that are coming over the trail are hunting a +market or a new owner. Convince any man that you have the range, and the +cattle will be forthcoming to occupy it." + +"But we only hold a quarter-section of land," replied the boy in his +bewilderment. + +"Good. Take possession of the range, occupy it with cattle, and every +one will respect your prior right," argued the practical man. "Range is +being rapidly taken up in this western country. Here's your chance. +Water and grass, world without end." + +Joel was evidently embarrassed. Not that he questioned the older man's +advice, but the means to the end seemed totally lacking. The grind of +poverty had been his constant companion, until he scarcely looked +forward to any reprieve, and the castles being built and the domain +surveyed at the present moment were vague and misty. "I don't doubt your +advice," admitted the boy. "A man could do it, you could, but Dell and +I had better return to the settlements. Mr. Quince will surely be +well by fall." + +"Will you make me a promise?" frankly asked the cowman. + +"I will," eagerly replied the boy. + +"After I leave to-morrow morning, then, tell Forrest that you are +thinking of claiming Beaver Creek as a cattle range. Ask him if he knows +any way to secure a few cows and yearlings with which to stock it. In +the mean time, think it over yourself. Will you do that?" + +"Y-e-s, I--I will," admitted Joel, as if trapped into the promise. + +"Of course you will. And ask him as if life and death depended on +securing the cattle. Forrest has been a trail foreman and knows all the +drovers and their men. He's liable to remain with you until the season +ends. Now, don't fail to ask him." + +"Oh, I'll ask him," said Joel more cheerfully. "Did you say that control +of a range was a basis on which to start a ranch, and that it had +a value?" + +"That's it. Now you're catching the idea. Lay hold and never lose sight +of the fact that a range that will graze five to ten thousand cattle, +the year round, is as good as money in the bank." + +Joel's faculties were grappling with the idea. The two turned their +horses homeward, casting an occasional glance to the southward, but were +unrewarded by the sight of a dust cloud, the signal of an approaching +herd. The trail foreman was satisfied that he had instilled interest and +inquiry into the boy's mind, which, if carefully nurtured, might result +in independence. They had ridden several miles, discussing different +matters, and when within sight of the homestead, Joel reined in his +horse. "Would you mind repeating," said he, "what you said awhile ago, +about control of a range by prior rights?" + +The trail foreman freely responded to the awakened interest. "On the +range," said he, "custom becomes law. No doubt but it dates back to the +first flocks and herds. Its foundations rest on a sense of equity and +justice which has always existed among pastoral people. In America it +dates from the first invasion of the Spanish. Among us Texans, a man's +range is respected equally with his home. By merely laying claim to the +grazing privileges of public domain, and occupying it with flocks or +herds, the consent of custom gives a man possession. It is an asset that +is bought and sold, and is only lost when abandoned. In all human +migrations, this custom has followed flocks and herds. Title to land is +the only condition to which the custom yields." + +"And we could claim this valley, by simply occupying it with cattle, and +hold possession of its grazing privileges?" repeated the boy. + +"By virtue of a custom, older than any law, you surely can. It's primal +range to-day. This is your epoch. The buffalo preceded you, the settler, +seeking a home, will follow you. The opportunity is yours. Go in +and win." + +"But how can we get a start of cattle?" pondered Joel. + +"Well, after I leave, you're going to ask Forrest that question. That +old boy knows all the ins and outs, and he may surprise you. There's an +old maxim about where there's a will there's a way. Now if you have the +will, I've a strong suspicion that your Mr. Quince will find the way. +Try him, anyhow." + +"Oh, I will," assured Joel; "the first thing in the morning." + +The leaven of interest had found lodgment. A pleasant evening was spent +in the tent. Before excusing the lads for the night, Priest said to the +doctor: "This is a fine cattle range, and I'd like your opinion about +these boys starting a little ranch on the Beaver." + +"Well," said the old physician, looking from Joel to Dell, "there are +too many lawyers and doctors already. The farmers raise nothing out +here, and about the only prosperous people I meet are you cowmen. You +ride good horses, have means to secure your needs, and your general +health is actually discouraging to my profession. Yes, I think I'll have +to approve of the suggestion. A life in the open, an evening by a +camp-fire, a saddle for a pillow--well, I wish I had my life to live +over. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wells Brothers making a big +success as ranchmen. They have health and youth, and there's nothing +like beginning at the bottom of the ladder. In fact, the proposition has +my hearty approval. Fight it out, boys; start a ranch." + +"Come on, Dell," said Joel, leading the way; "these gentlemen want to +make an early start. You'll have to bring in the horses while I get +breakfast. Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BOTTOM RUNG + + +An early start was delayed. Joel had figured without his guest, as the +Texan stands in a class by himself. The peace and serenity of pastoral +life affects its people, influencing their normal natures into calm and +tranquil ways. Hence, instead of the expected start at sunrise, after +breakfast the trail foreman languidly sauntered out to the corral, +followed by the boys. + +The old physician, even, grew impatient. "What on earth do you think is +detaining that man?" he inquired of Forrest. "Here the sun is nearly an +hour high, and not a wheel turning. And I can see him from the tent +opening, sitting on a log, flicking the ground with his quirt and +chatting with those boys. What do you suppose they are talking about?" + +"Well, now, that's a hard question," answered Forrest. "I'll chance the +subject is of no importance. Just a little social powwow with the boys, +most likely. Sit down, Doctor, and take life easy--the cows will calve +in the spring." + +Patience had almost ceased to be a virtue when the trail boss put in an +appearance at the tent. "You are in no particular hurry, are you, +Doctor?" he inquired, with a friendly smile. + +"Oh, no," said the physician, with delightful irony; "I was just +thinking of having the team unhooked, and lay over another day. Still, I +am some little distance from home, and have a family that likes to see +me occasionally." + +The buckboard rattled away. "Come in the tent," called Forrest to the +boys. "If old Paul sees you standing out there, he's liable to think of +something and come back. Honestly, when it comes to killing time, that +old boy is the bell steer." + +Only three were now left at the homestead. The first concern was to +intercept the next passing herd. Forrest had a wide acquaintance among +trail foremen, had met many of them at Dodge only ten days before, while +passing that supply point, and it was a matter of waiting until a herd +should appear. + +There was little delay. Joel was sent at ten o'clock to the nearest +swell, and Dell an hour later. The magic was working overtime; the dust +cloud was there! In his haste to deliver the message, the sentinel's +horse tore past the tent and was only halted at the corral. "It's +there!" he shouted, returning, peering through the tent-flaps. "They're +coming; another herd's coming. It's in the dip behind the first divide. +Shall I go? I saw it first." + +"Dismount and rest your saddle," said Forrest. "Come in and let's make a +little medicine. If this herd has one, here's where we get a cow. Come +in and we'll plot against the Texans." + +With great misgiving, Dell dismounted. As he entered the tent, Forrest +continued: "Sit on the corner of my bunk, and we'll talk the situation +over. Oh, I'm going to send you, never fear. Now, the trouble is, we +don't know whose herd this may be, and you must play innocent and foxy. +If the herd is behind the first divide, it'll water in the Beaver about +four o'clock. Now, ride down the creek and keep your eagle eye open for +a lone horseman, either at the crossing or on the trail. That's the +foreman, and that's the man we want to see. He may be ten miles in the +lead of his herd, and you want to ride straight to him. Give him all the +information you can regarding the water, and inquire if this is one of +Lovell's herds. That will put you on a chatting basis, and then lead up +to your errand. Tell him that you are running a trail hospital, and that +you have a wounded man named Quince Forrest at your camp, and ask the +foreman to come up and see him. Once you get him here, your work is +over, except going back after the cow." + +Dell was impatient to be off, and started for the opening. "Hold on," +commanded Forrest, "or I'll put a rope on you. Now, ride slowly, let +your horse set his own pace, and don't come back without your man. Make +out that I'm badly wounded, and that you feel uneasy that blood +poisoning may set in." + +The messenger lost no time in getting away. Once out of sight of the +tent, Dell could not resist the temptation to gallop his mount over +level places. Carrying the weight of a boy was nothing to the horse, and +before half an hour had passed, the ford and trail came in view of the +anxious courier. Halting in order to survey the horizon, the haze and +heat-waves of summer so obstructed his view that every object looked +blurred and indistinct. Even the dust cloud was missing; and pushing on +a mile farther, he reined in again. Now and then in the upper sky, an +intervening cloud threw a shadow over the plain, revealing objects more +distinctly. For a moment one rested over the trail crossing, and like +prophecy fulfilled, there was the lone horseman at the ford! + +In the waste places it is a pleasure to unexpectedly meet a fellow +being. Before being observed, Dell rode within hailing distance, +greeting, and man and boy were soon in friendly converse. There was +water sufficient for all needs, the herd required no pilot, the summons +found a ready response, and the two were soon riding up the Beaver in +a jog trot. + +The gait admitted of free conversation, and the new foreman soon had +Dell on the defensive. "I always hate to follow a Lovell outfit," said +the stranger regretfully; "they're always in trouble. Old man Don's a +nice enough man, but he sure works sorry outfits on the trail. I've been +expecting to hear something like this. If it isn't rebranding their +saddle stock with nigger brands, it's sure to be something worse. And +now that flat-headed Quince Forrest plows a fire-guard down his own leg +with a six-shooter! Well, wouldn't that sour sweet milk!" + +"Oh, it wasn't his fault," protested Dell; "he only loaned his pistol, +and it was returned with the hammer on a cartridge." + +"Of course," disgustedly assented the trail boss; "with me it's an old +story. Hadn't no more sabe than to lend his gun to some prowling +tenderfoot. More than likely he urged its loan on this short-horn. Yes, +I know Colonel Forrest; I've known him to bet his saddle and ride +bareback as the result. It shows his cow-sense. Rather shallow-brained +to be allowed so far from home." + +"Well," contended poor Dell, "they surely were no friends. At least Mr. +Quince don't speak very highly of that man." + +"That's his hindsight," said the trail foreman. "If the truth ever comes +out, you'll notice his foresight was different. Colonel Quince is +famous, after the horse is stolen, for locking the stable door. That +other time he offered to take an oath, on a stack of Bibles, never to +bet his saddle again. The trouble is the game never repeats; the play +never comes up twice alike. If that old boy's gray matter ever comes to +full bloom, long before his allotted time, he'll wither away." + +Dell was discouraged. He realized that his defense of his friend was +weak. This second foreman seemed so different from either Priest or +Forrest. He spoke with such deep regret of the seeming faults of others +that the boy never doubted his sincerity. He even questioned Dell with +such an innocent countenance that the lad withered before his glance, +and became disheartened at the success of the errand. Forced to the +defense continually, on several occasions Dell nearly betrayed the +object of bringing the new man to the homestead, but in each instance +was saved by some fortunate turn in the conversation. Never was sight +more welcome than the tent, glistening in the sun, and never was relief +from duty more welcome to a courier. The only crumb of comfort left to +the boy who had ridden forth so boldly was that he had not betrayed the +object of his mission and had brought the range men together. Otherwise +his banner was trailing in the dust. + +The two rode direct to the tent. During the middle of the day, in order +to provide free ventilation, the walls were tucked up, and the flaps, +rear and front, thrown wide open. Stretched on his bunk, Forrest watched +the opening, and when darkened by the new arrival, the wounded man's +greeting was most cordial. "Well, if it isn't old Nat Straw," said he, +extending his hand. "Here, I've been running over in my mind the +different trail bosses who generally go north of the Platte River, but +you escaped my memory. It must have gotten into my mind, somehow, that +you had married and gone back to chopping cotton. Still driving for +Uncle Jess Ellison, I reckon?" + +"Yes, still clerking for the same drover," admitted Straw, glancing at +the wounded limb. "What's this I hear about you laying off, and trying +to eat some poor nester out of house and home? You must be +getting doty." + +"Enjoy yourself, Nat. The laugh's on me. I'm getting discouraged that +I'll ever have common horse sense. Isn't it a shame to be a fool all +your life!" + +Straw glanced from the bunk to Dell. "I was just telling the boy, as we +rode up the creek, that you needed a whole heap of fixing in your upper +loft. The poor boy tried his best to defend you, but it was easy to see +that he hadn't known you long." + +"And of course you strung him for all he could carry," said Forrest. +"Here, Dell. You were in such a hurry to get away that I overlooked +warning you against these trail varmints. Right now, I can see old Nat +leading you in under a wet blanket, and your colors dragging. Don't +believe a word he told you, and don't even give him a pleasant look +while he stays here." + +The discouraged boy brightened, and Joel and Dell were excused, to water +and picket the horses. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," resumed +Forrest, "brow-beating that boy. Considering my hard luck, I've fallen +into angels' hands. These boys are darling fellows. Now before you +leave, square yourself with that youngest one." + +"A little jollying while he's young won't hurt him," replied Straw. +"It's not a bad idea to learn early to believe nothing that you hear and +only half of what you see. If you had been taken snipe hunting oftener +when you were young, it wouldn't hurt you any now. There are just about +so many knocks coming to each of us, and we've got to take them along +with the croup, chicken-pox, measles, and mumps." + +During the absence of the boys, Forrest informed Straw of the sad +condition which confronted the lads, when accident and necessity threw +him into their hands. He also repeated Priest's opinion of the valuable +range, unoccupied above on the Beaver, and urged his assistance in +securing some cattle with which to stock and claim it for the boys. + +"There's plenty of flotsam on the trail," said he, "strays and +sore-footed cattle, to occupy this valley and give these boys a start in +life. I never even got thanked for a stray, and I've turned hundreds of +them loose on these upper ranges, refused on the delivery of a herd. +Somebody gets them, and I want these boys of mine to get a few hundred +head during this summer. Here's the place to drop your cripples and +stray cows. From what Paul says, there's range above here for thousands +of cattle, and that's the foundation of a ranch. Without a hoof on it, +it has a value in proportion to its carrying capacity, and Priest and I +want these boys to secure it. They've treated me white, and I'm going to +make a fight for them." + +The appeal was not in vain. "Why not," commented Straw. "Let me in and +we'll make it three-handed. My herd is contracted again this year to the +same cattle company on the Crazy Woman, in Wyoming, as last season, and +I want to fool them this trip. They got gay on my hands last summer, +held me down to the straight road brand at delivery, and I'll see to it +that there are no strays in my herd this year. I went hungry for fresh +beef, and gave those sharks over forty good strays. They knew I'd have +to leave them behind me. Watch me do it again." + +"About how many have you now, and how do they run?" + +"They're a hit-and-miss lot, like strays always are. Run from a good cow +down to yearlings. There ought to be about twenty-five head, and I'll +cut you out five or six cripples. They could never make it +through, nohow." + +"Any calves among the strays?" + +"Two or three." + +"Good enough. Give each of the boys a cow and calf, and the others to +me. We'll let on that I've bought them." + +That no time might be lost in friendly chat, a late dinner was eaten in +the tent. Straw would have to meet his herd at the trail crossing that +afternoon, which would afford an opportunity to cut out all strays and +cripples. One of the boys would return with him, for the expected cow, +and when volunteers were called for, Dell hesitated in offering his +services. "I'll excuse you," said Straw to Joel, who had jumped at the +chance. "I'm a little weak on this red-headed boy, and when a cow hand +picks on me for his side partner, the choice holds until further orders. +Bring in the horses off picket, son, and we'll be riding." + +The latter order was addressed to Dell. No sooner had the boy departed +than Straw turned to Joel. "I've fallen head over ears in love with the +idea of this trail hospital. Just where it ought to be; just about +midway between Dodge and Ogalalla. Of course I'm hog wild to get in on +it. I might get a man hurt any day, might get sick myself, and I want to +be a stockholder in this hospital of yours. What's your favorite +color in cows?" + +Joel's caution caused him to hesitate. "If you have one, send me a +milk-white cow _with a black face_" instantly said Forrest. "White cows +are rich in cream, and I'm getting peevish, having to drink +black coffee." + +"A white cow for you," said Straw, nodding to Forrest, "and what color +for you?" But Joel, although half convinced, made no answer. + +"Send him a red one," authorized Forrest; "red steers bring a dollar a +head more than mongrel colors." + +"A red cow and calf for Joel, a white one for milk, and Dell can pick +his own," said Straw, murmuring a memorandum. "Now, that little passel +of cripples, and odds and ends," again nodding to Forrest, "that I'm +sawing off on you, I'll bring them up with the cows. Yes, I'm coming +back and stay all night." + +Joel lost all doubts on the moment. The trail boss was coming back, was +going to bring each one a cow. There was no question but that this +stranger had the cattle in his possession; surely he would not trifle +with his own people, with an unfortunate, wounded man. All this seemed +so in keeping with the partial outline of Priest, the old gray-haired +foreman, that the boy's caution gave place to firm belief. If generous +princes ever walked the earth, it was just possible that liberal ones in +the rough were still riding it in disguise. + +Joel hastened to his brother with the news. "It's all right," said he, +throwing the saddle on Straw's horse. "You go right along with this +strange foreman. He gave Mr. Quince a milk cow, a white one, and you're +to pick one for yourself. If I were going in your place, I'd pick a red +one; red cattle are worth a dollar a head more than any other color." + +There was something in Joel's voice that told Dell that his brother had +not been forgotten. "And you?--don't you?" stammered the younger boy. + +"Mr. Quince picked out a cow and calf for me," replied Joel, with a +loftiness that two years' seniority confers on healthy boys. "I left it +to him to choose mine. You'd better pick out a red one. And say, this +hospital of ours is the real thing. It's the only one between Dodge and +Ogalalla. This strange foreman wants to take stock in it. I wonder if +that was what he meant by sawing off a little passel of cattle on Mr. +Quince. Now, don't argue or ask foolish questions, but keep your eyes +and ears open." + +Fortified anew in courage, Dell accompanied the trail boss to meet his +herd. It was a short hour's ride, and on sighting the cattle, then +nearing the crossing, they gave rein to their horses and rode for the +rear of the long column, where, in the rear-guard of the trailing +cattle, naturally the sore and tender-footed animals were to be found. +The drag men knew them to a hoof, were delighted to hear that all +cripples were to be dropped, and half a dozen were cut off and started +up the Beaver. "Nurse them to the nearest water," said Straw to the drag +men, "and then push them up the creek until I overtake you. Here's where +we drop our strays and cripples. What? No, I'm only endowing a trail +hospital." + +The herd numbered thirty-one hundred two-year-old steers. They filled +the channel of the Beaver for a mile around the crossing, crowding into +the deeper pools, and thrashing up and down the creek in slaking their +thirst. Dell had never seen so many cattle, almost as uniform in size as +that many marbles, and the ease with which a few men handled the herd +became a nine-day wonder to the astonished boy. And when the word passed +around to cut all strays up the creek, the facility with which the men +culled out the alien down to one class and road brand, proved them +masters in the craft. It seemed as easily done as selecting a knife +from among the other trinkets in a boy's pocket. + +After a change of mounts for the foreman, Dell and the trail boss +drifted the strays up the creek. The latter had counted and classed them +as cut out of the herd, and when thrown together with the cripples, the +promised little passel numbered thirty-five cattle, not counting three +calves. Straw excused his men, promising to overtake them the next +morning, and man and boy drifted the nucleus of a future ranch toward +the homestead. + +"Barring that white cow and the red one with the speckled calf," said +Straw to Dell, pointing out each, "you're entitled to pick one for +yourself. Now, I'm not going to hurry you in making your choice. Any +time before we sight the tent and shack, you are to pick one for your +own dear cow, and stand by your choice, good or bad. Remember, it +carries my compliments to you, as one of the founders of the first +hospital on the Texas and Montana cattle trail." + +Two miles below the homestead, the half-dozen cripples were dropped to +the rear. "You can come back to-morrow morning and get these tender +steers," said the foreman, "and drift them up above the improvements. +You'll find them near here on the water. Now, we'll sight the tent +around the next bend, and you may point out your choice." + +"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, pointing out +a yearling. + +A peal of laughter greeted his choice. "That's a boy," shouted Straw; +"shoot at a buck and kill a fawn! Why didn't you take that black cow +and calf?" + +"I like red cattle the best," replied Dell, undaunted. "I've heard they +bring a better price. I'll own the only red steer in the bunch." + +"Yes, but when your choice is a beef, that black cow and her increase +would buy two beeves. Dell, if you ever get to be a cowman, you'll have +to do some of your own thinking." + +Dell's mistake was in listening to others. Joel was equally guilty, as +his lofty comments regarding red cattle were derived from the random +remarks of Forrest. The brothers were novices in range cattle, and +Dell's error was based in not relying on his own judgment. + +On sighting the approaching cattle, Forrest's bunk was eased around to +the tent opening, Joel holding the flaps apart, and the little herd was +grazed past at a snail's pace in review. Leaving Dell to nurse the +nucleus past the improvements, Straw dismounted at the tent. "Well," +said he, handing the bridle reins to Joel, "that red-headed Dell is +surely the making of a great cowman. All successful men begin at the +bottom of the ladder, and he surely put his foot on the lowest rung. +What do you suppose his choice was?" + +"The bottom rung suggests a yearling," said Forrest. + +"Stand up. You spelled the word correct. I'm a sheep herder, if he +didn't pick out the only, little, old, red, dobe steer in the +entire bunch!" + +Forrest eased himself down on the bunk, unable to restrain his laughter. +"Well," said he, "we all have to learn, and no one can say Dell wasn't +true to his colors." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE + + +The next morning Straw dallied about until Dell brought up the crippled +cattle. They were uniform in size; rest was the one thing needful, and +it now would be theirs amid bountiful surroundings. They were driven up +among the others, now scattered about in plain sight in the valley +above, presenting a morning scene of pastoral contentment. + +"Even the calves are playing this morning," said Straw to Forrest, as +the former entered the tent. "A few cattle surely make this valley look +good. What you want to do now is to keep on drawing more. Don't allow no +outfit to pass without chipping in, at least give them the chance, and +this trail hospital will be on velvet in no time. Of course, all Lovell +outfits will tear their shirts boosting the endowment fund, but that +needn't bar the other herds. Some outfits may have no cattle, but they +can chip in a sore-back or crippled pony. My idea is to bar no one, and +if they won't come in, give them a chance to say they don't want to. +You ought to send word back to Dodge; any foreman going east or west +from there would give you his strays." + +The conception of a trail refuge had taken root. The supply points were +oases for amusement, but a halfway haven for the long stretches of +unsettled country, during the exodus of Texas cattle to the Northwest, +was an unknown port. The monotony of from three to five months on the +trail, night and day work, was tiring to men, while a glass of milk or +even an hour in the shade was a distinct relief. Straw was reluctant to +go, returning to make suggestions, by way of excuse, and not until +forced by the advancing day did he mount and leave to overtake his herd. + +Again the trio was left alone. Straw had given Forrest a list of brands +and a classification of the cattle contributed, and a lesson in reading +brands was given the boys. "Brands read from left to right," said +Forrest to the pair of attentive listeners, "or downward. If more than +one brand is on an animal, the upper one is the holding or one in which +ownership is vested. Character brands are known by name, and are used +because difficult to alter. There is scarcely a letter in the alphabet +that a cattle thief can't change. When a cow brute leaves its home +range, it's always a temptation to some rustler to alter the brand, and +characters are not so easily changed." + +The importance of claiming the range was pressing, and now that cattle +were occupying it, the opportunity presented itself. A notice was +accordingly written, laying claim to all grazing rights, from the Texas +and Montana trail crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same, +including all its tributaries, by virtue of possession and occupancy +vested in the claimants, Wells Brothers. "How does that sound?" inquired +Forrest, its author, giving a literal reading of the notice. "Nothing +small or stingy about that, eh? When you're getting, get a-plenty." + +"But where are we to get the cattle to stock such a big country?" +pondered Joel. "It's twenty miles to the head of this creek." + +"We might as well lay big plans as little ones. Here's where we make a +spoon or spoil a horn. Saddle a horse and post this notice down at the +trail crossing. Sink a stake where every one can see it, and nail your +colors to the sign-board. We are the people, and must be respected." + +Joel hastened away to post the important notice. Dell was detailed on +sentinel duty, on lookout for another herd, but each trip he managed to +find some excuse to ride among the cattle. "What's the brand on my white +cow?" inquired Forrest, the object leading up to another peculiarity +in color. + +"I couldn't _read_ it," said Dell, airing his range parlance. + +"No? Well, did you ever see a white cow with a black face?" inquired the +wounded man, coming direct to the matter at issue. + +"Not that I remember; why?" + +"Because there never lived such a colored cow. Nature has one color that +she never mars. You can find any colored cow with a white face, but +you'll never find a milk-white cow with a colored face. That line is +drawn, and you want to remember it. You'll never shoot a wild swan with +a blue wing, or see yellow snowflakes fall, or meet a pure white cow +with a black face. Hereafter, if any one attempts to send you on a +wild-goose chase, to hunt such a cow, tell them that no such animal ever +walked this earth." + +Joel returned before noon. No sign of an approaching herd was sighted by +the middle of the afternoon, and the trio resigned themselves to random +conversation. + +"Dell," said Forrest, "it's been on my mind all day to ask you why you +picked a yearling yesterday when you had a chance to take a cow. Straw +laughed at you." + +"Because Joel said red cattle were worth a dollar a head more than any +other color." + +"Young man," inquired Forrest of Joel, "what's your authority for that +statement?" + +"Didn't you pick me a red cow yesterday, and didn't you admit to Mr. +Straw that red cattle were worth the most?" said Joel, in defense of +his actions. + +"And you rushed away and palmed my random talking off on Dell as +original advice? You'll do. Claiming a little more than you actually +know will never hurt you any. Now here's a prize for the best brand +reader: The boy who brings me a correct list of brands, as furnished by +Straw, gets my white cow and calf as a reward. I want the road and ranch +brand on the cripples, and the only or holding brand on the others. Now, +fool one another if you can. Ride through them slowly, and the one who +brings me a perfect list is my bully boy." + +The incentive of reward stimulated the brothers to action. They +scampered away on ponies, not even waiting to saddle, and several hours +were spent in copying brands. These included characters, figures, and +letters, and to read them with skill was largely a matter of practice. +Any novice ought to copy brands, but in this instance the amateur's list +would be compared with that of an experienced trail foreman, a neutral +judge from which there was no appeal. + +The task occupied the entire evening. Forrest not only had them read, +but looked over each copy, lending impartial assistance in reading +characters that might baffle a boy. There were some half dozen of the +latter in Straw's list, a _turkey track_ being the most difficult to +interpret, but when all characters were fully understood, Joel still had +four errors to Dell's three. The cripples were found to be correct in +each instance, and were exempt from further disturbance. Forrest now +insisted that to classify, by enumerating each grade, would assist in +locating the errors, which work would have to be postponed +until morning. + +The boys were thoroughly in earnest in mastering the task. Forrest +regaled them with examples of the wonderful expertness of the Texans in +reading brands and classifying cattle. "Down home," said he, "we have +boys who read brands as easily as a girl reads a novel. I know men who +can count one hundred head of mixed cattle, as they leave a corral, or +trail along, and not only classify them but also give you every brand +correctly. Now, that's the kind of cowmen I aim to make out of you boys, +and to-morrow morning you must get these brands accurate. What +was that?" + +Both boys sprang to the tent opening and listened. It sounded like a +shot, and within a few moments was seconded by a distant hail. + +"Some one must be lost," suggested Joel. "He's down the creek." + +"Lost your grandmother!" exclaimed Forrest. "We're all lost in this +country. Here, fire this six-shooter in the air, and follow it up with a +Comanche yell. Dell, build a little fire on the nearest knoll. It's more +than likely some trail man hunting this camp." + +The signal-fire was soon burning. The only answer vouchsafed was some +fifteen minutes later, when the clatter of an approaching horse was +distinctly heard. A lantern shone through the tent walls, and the prompt +hail of the horseman proved him no stranger. "Is Quince Forrest here?" +he inquired, as his horse shied at the tent. + +"He is. Come in, Dorg," said Forrest, recognizing by his voice the +horseman without to be Dorg Seay, one of Don Lovell's foremen. "Come in +and let us feast our eyes on your handsome face." + +Seay peeped within and timidly entered. "Well," said he, pulling at a +straggling mustache, "evidently it isn't as bad as reported. Priest +wrote back to old man Don that you had attempted suicide--unfortunate in +love was the reason given--and I have orders to inquire into your health +or scatter flowers on your grave. Able to sit up and take notice?--no +complications, I hope?" + +"When did you leave Dodge?" inquired Forrest, ignoring Seay's +persiflage. + +"About a week ago. A telegram was waiting me on the railroad, and I rode +through this afternoon. If this ranch boasts anything to eat, now would +be an awful nice time to mention it." + +Seay's wants were looked after. + +"How many herds between here and the railroad?" inquired Forrest, +resuming the conversation. + +"Only one ahead of mine. In fact, I'm foreman of both herds--live with +the lead one and occasionally go back and see my own. It all depends on +who feeds best." + +"And when will your herd reach the Beaver?" continued Forrest. + +"I left orders to water my lead herd in the Beaver at three o'clock +to-morrow, and my own dear cattle will be at their heels. My outfit acts +as rear-guard to Blocker's herd." + +These men, in the employ of the same drover, had not seen each other in +months, and a fire of questions followed, and were answered. The +chronicle of the long drive, of accident by flood and field, led up to +the prospects for a northern demand for cattle. + +"The market has barely opened in Dodge," said Seay, in reply to a +question. "Unless the herds are sold or contracted, very few will leave +Dodge for the Platte River before the first of July. Old man Don isn't +driving a hoof that isn't placed, so all his herds will pass Ogalalla +before the first of the month. The bulk of the drive going north of the +Platte will come next month. With the exception of scattering herds, the +first of August will end the drive." + +The men talked far into the night. When they were left alone in the +tent, Forrest unfolded his plans for starting the boys in life. + +"We found them actually on their uppers," said he; "they hadn't tasted +meat in months, and were living on greens and garden truck. It's a good +range, and we must get them some cattle. The first year may be a little +tough, but by drawing on all of Lovell's wagons for the necessary +staples, we can provision them until next spring. You must leave some +flour and salt and beans and the like." + +"Beans!" echoed Seay. "That will surely tickle my cook. Did you ever +notice that the farther north it goes, a Texas trail outfit gets +tastier? Let it start out on bacon and beans and blackstrap, and after +the herd crosses the Platte, the varmints want prairie chicken and fried +trout. Tasty! Why, those old boys develop an elegant taste for dainties. +Nothing but good old beef ever makes them even think of home again. Yes, +my cook will give you his last bean, and make a presentation +speech gratis." + +Forrest's wound had begun to mend, the soreness and swelling had left +the knee joint, and the following morning Seay spent in making crutches. +Crude and for temporary use, the wounded man tried them out, and by +assistance reached the entrance, where he was eased into an old family +rocking-chair in the shade of the tent. + +"This has been the dream of my life," said he, "to sit like some old +patriarch in my tent door and count my cattle. See that white cow +yonder?" pointing with a crutch. "Well, she belongs to your uncle John +Quincy. And that reminds me that she and her calf are up as a reward to +complete the roll of brands. Boys, are you ready?" + +The revised lists were submitted for inspection. Compared with the one +rendered by Straw, there was still a difference in Dell's regarding a +dun cow, while Joel's list varied on three head. Under the +classification the errors were easily located, and summoning the +visiting foreman, Forrest explained the situation. + +"I'll have to appoint you umpire in deciding this matter. Here's the +roll furnished by Nat Straw, and you'll compare it with Dell and Joel's. +Of course, old Nat didn't care a whoopee about getting the list perfect, +and my boy may be right on that dun cow. Joel differs on a +three-year-old, a heifer, and a yearling steer. Now, get them straight, +because we're expecting to receive more cattle this evening. Pass on +these brands before you leave to meet your herd this afternoon. And +remember, there's a cow and calf at stake for whichever one of these +boys first gets the roll correct." + +After dinner the three rode away for a final inspection. The cattle were +lazy and logy from water, often admitting of riding within a rod, thus +rendering the brands readable at a glance. Dell led the way to the dun +cow, but before Seay could pass an opinion, the boy called for his list +in possession of the man. "Let me take my roll a minute," said he, "and +I'll make the correction. It isn't a four bar four, it's four equals +four; there's two bars instead of one. The cow and calf is mine. That +gives me three." + +The lust of possession was in Dell's voice. The reward had been fairly +earned, and turning to the other cattle in dispute, Joel's errors were +easily corrected. All three were in one brand, and the mere failure to +note the lines of difference between the figure eight and the letter S +had resulted in repeating the mistake. Seay amused himself by pointing +out different animals and calling for their brands, and an envious +rivalry resulted between the brothers, in their ability to read +range script. + +"A good eye and a good memory," said Seay, as they rode homeward, "are +gifts to a cowman. A brand once seen is hardly ever forgotten. Twenty +years hence, you boys will remember all these brands. One man can read +brands at twice the distance of another, and I have seen many who could +distinguish cattle from horses, with the naked eye, at a distance of +three miles. When a man learns to know all there is about cattle, he +ought to be getting gray around the edges." + +Forrest accepted the umpire's report. "I thought some novice might trip +his toe on that equality sign," said he. "There's nothing like having +studied your arithmetic. Dell's been to school, and it won him a cow and +calf when he saw the sign used as a brand. I wonder how he is on +driving mules." + +"I can drive them," came the prompt reply. + +"Very well. Hook up the old team. I'm sending you down to the trail +crossing to levy on two commissary wagons. Take everything they give you +and throw out a few hints for more. This afternoon we begin laying in a +year's provisions. It may be a cold winter, followed by a late spring, +and there's nothing like having enough. Relieve them of all their dried +fruits, and make a strong talk for the staples of life. I may want to +winter here myself, and a cow camp should make provision for more or +less company." + +Seay lent his approval. "Hitch up and rattle along ahead of me," said +he. "The wagons may reach the crossing an hour or two ahead of the +herds, and I'll be there to help you trim them down to light +traveling form." + +It proved an active afternoon. The wagon was started for the trail +crossing, followed by Seay within half an hour. Joel was in a quandary, +between duty and desire, as he was anxious to see the passing herds, yet +a bond of obligation to the wounded man required his obedience. Forrest +had noticed the horse under saddle, the impatience of the boy, but +tactfully removed all uneasiness. + +"I have been trying to figure out," said he, "how I could spare you this +afternoon, as no doubt you would like to see the herds, but we have so +much to do at home. Now that I can hobble out, you must get me four +poles, and we will strip this fly off the tent and make a sunshade out +of it--make an arbor in front of our quarters. Have the props ready, and +in the morning Seay will show you how to stretch a tarpaulin for a +sunshade. And then along towards evening, you must drift our little +bunch of cattle at least a mile up the creek. I'm expecting more this +evening, and until we learn the brands on this second contingent, they +must be kept separate. And then, since we've claimed it, we want to make +a showing of occupying the range, by scattering the cattle over it. +Within a month, our cows must rest in the shade of Hackberry Grove and +be watering out of those upper springs. When you take a country, the +next thing is to hold it." + +Something to do was a relief to Joel. Willow stays, for the arbor, were +cut, the bark peeled off, and the poles laid ready at hand. When the +cattle arose, of their own accord, from the noonday rest, the impatient +lad was allowed to graze them around the bend of the creek. There was +hardly enough work to keep an active boy employed, and a social hour +ensued. "Things are coming our way," said Forrest. "This man Seay will +just about rob Blocker's outfit. When it comes to making a poor mouth, +that boy Dorg is in a class by himself. Dell will just about have a +wagon load. You boys will have to sleep in the tent hereafter." + +It proved so. The team returned an hour before sunset, loaded to the +carrying capacity of the wagon. Not only were there remnants in the +staples of life, but kegs of molasses and bags of flour and beans, while +a good saddle, coils of rope, and a pair of new boots which, after a +wetting, had proven too small for the owner, were among the assets. It +was a motley assortment of odds and ends, a free discard of two trail +outfits, all of which found an acceptable lodgment at the new ranch. + +"They're coming up to supper," announced Dell to Forrest. "Mr. Blocker's +foreman knows you, and sent word to get up a spread. He says that when +he goes visiting, he expects his friends to not only put on the little +and big pot, but kill a chicken and churn. He's such a funny fellow. He +made me try on those boots, and when he saw they would fit, he ordered +their owner, one of Mr. Seay's men, to give them to me or he would fight +him at sunrise." + +"Had them robbing each other for us, eh?" said Forrest, smiling. "Well, +that's the kind of friend to have when settling up a new country. This +ranch is like a fairy story. Here I sit and wave my crutch for a wand, +and everything we need seems to just bob up out of the plain. Cattle +coming along to stock a ranch, old chum coming to supper, in fact, +everything coming our way. Dell, get up a banquet--who cares +for expense!" + +It was barely dusk when the second contingent of cattle passed above the +homestead and were turned loose for the night. As before, the cripples +had been dropped midway, and would be nursed up the next morning. With +the assistance of crutches, Forrest managed to reach the opening, and by +clinging to the tent-pole, waved a welcome to the approaching trail men. + +Blocker's foreman, disdaining an invitation to dismount, saluted his +host. "There's some question in my mind," said he, "as to what kind of a +dead-fall you're running up here, but if it's on the square, there goes +my contribution to your hospital. Of course, the gift carries the +compliments of my employer, Captain John. That red-headed boy delivered +my messages, I reckon? Well, now, make out that I'm somebody that's come +a long way, and that you're tickled to death to see me, and order the +fatted calf killed. Otherwise, I won't even dismount." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A FALL OF CRUMBS + + +An active day followed. The two trail foremen left early to overtake +their herds, and the trio at the homestead was fully employed. The +cripples were brought up, brands were copied, and the commissary stores +assorted and arranged. Before leaving, the men had stretched the +sunshade, and the wounded magician sat in state before his own +tent door. + +The second contingent numbered forty cattle. Like the first, they were a +mixed lot, with the exception of a gentle cow. Occasionally a trail +foreman would provide his outfit with a milk cow before starting, or +gentle one en route, and Seay had willingly given his cow to the +hospital on the Beaver. + +A fine rain fell during the night. It began falling during the twilight +of evening, gathering in force as the hours passed, and only ceased near +the middle of the following forenoon. The creek filled to its banks, the +field and garden freshened in a day, and the new ranch threw off the +blight of summer drouth. + +"This will bring the herds," said Forrest, as the sun burst forth at +noon. "It's a general rain, and every one in Dodge, now that water is +sure, will pull out for the Platte River. It will cool the weather and +freshen the grass, and every drover with herds on the trail will push +forward for Ogalalla. We'll have to patrol the crossing on the Beaver, +as the rain will lay the dust for a week and rob us of our signal." + +The crippled man's words proved prophetic. One of the boys was daily +detailed to ride to the first divide south, from which a herd, if timing +its march to reach the Beaver within a day, could be sighted. On a +primal trace, like the Texas and Montana cattle trail, every benefit to +the herd was sought, and the freshened range and running water were a +welcome breeze to the drover's sail. + +The first week after the rain only three herds reached the Beaver. Each +foreman paid his respects to Forrest at the homestead, but the herds +were heavy beef cattle, purchased at Dodge for delivery on army +contracts, and were outfitted anew on a change of owners. The usual +flotsam of crippled and stray cattle, of galled and lame saddle stock, +and of useless commissary supplies, was missing, and only the well +wishes of the wayfaring were left to hearten man and boy at the +new ranch. + +The second week brought better results. Four of Don Lovell's herds +passed within two days, and the nucleus of cattle increased to one +hundred and forty odd, seven crippled horses were left, while the +commissary stores fairly showered, a second wagon load being necessary +to bring up the cache from the trail crossing. In all, during the week, +fifteen herds passed, only three of which refused the invitation to +call, while one was merely drifting along in search of a range to take +up and locate with a herd of cattle. Its owners, new men in the +occupation, were scouting wide, and when one of them discovered +Hackberry Grove above the homestead, his delight was unbounded, as the +range met every requirement for establishing a ranch. + +The tyro's exultation was brief. On satisfying himself on the source of +the water, the splendid shade and abundance of fuel, he rode down the +creek to intercept the trail, and on rounding a bend of the Beaver, was +surprised to sight a bunch of cattle. Knowing the value of the range, +Forrest had urged the boys to nurse the first contingent of strays up +the creek, farther and farther, until they were then ranging within a +mile of the grove. The newcomer could hardly control his chagrin, and +as he rode along, scarcely a mile was passed but more cattle were +encountered, and finally the tent and homestead loomed in sight. + +"Well, I'm glad to have such near neighbors," affably said the stranger, +as he dismounted before the tent. "Holding down a homestead, I suppose?" + +Only Joel and Forrest were at home. "Not exactly," replied the latter; +"this is headquarters ranch of Wells Brothers; range from the trail +crossing on Beaver to the headwaters of the same. On the trail with +cattle, I reckon?" + +"Just grazing along until a range can be secured," replied the man. +"I've found a splendid one only a few miles up the creek--fine grove of +timber and living springs. If the range suits my partner, we'll move in +within a few days and take possession." + +"Notice any cattle as you came down the creek?" politely inquired +Forrest. + +"Just a few here and there. They look like strays; must have escaped +from some trail herd. If we decide to locate above, I'll have them all +rounded up and pushed down the creek." + +Joel scented danger as a cub wolf scents blood. He crossed the arbor and +took up a position behind Forrest's chair. The latter was a picture of +contentment, smiling at the assurance of his caller, and qualifying his +remarks with rare irony. + +"Well, since you expect to be our neighbor, better unsaddle and stay for +dinner," urged Forrest. "Let's get acquainted--at least, come to some +friendly understanding." + +"No, thank you. My partner is waiting my return to the herd, and will be +anxious for my report on the range above. If possible, we don't care to +locate any farther north." + +"You ought to have secured your range before you bought your cattle. You +seem to have the cart before the horse," observed the wounded man. + +"Oh," said the novice, with a sweeping gesture, "there's plenty of +unclaimed range. There's ample grass and water on this creek to graze +five thousand cattle." + +"Wells Brothers estimate that the range, tributary to the Beaver, will +carry ten thousand head the year round," replied Forrest, languidly +indifferent. + +"Who are Wells Brothers?" inquired the newcomer. + +Forrest turned to the stranger as if informing a child. "You have the +name correct," said he. "The brothers took this range some time ago, and +those cattle that you met up the creek are theirs. Before you round up +any cattle and drive them out, you had better look into the situation +thoroughly. You surely know and respect range customs." + +"Well," said the stranger explosively,--they mustn't expect to hold the +whole country with a handful of cattle." + +"They only took the range recently, and are acquiring cattle as fast as +possible," politely replied Forrest. + +"They can't hold any more country than they can occupy," authoritatively +asserted the novice. "All we want is a range for a thousand cows, and +I've decided on that hackberry grove as headquarters." + +"Your hearing seems defective," remarked Forrest in flute-like tones. +"Let me repeat: This is headquarters for Wells Brothers. Their range +runs from the trail crossing, six miles below, to the headwaters of +Beaver, including all its tributaries. Since you can't stay for dinner, +you'll have time to ride down to the crossing of the Texas and Montana +trail on this creek. There you'll find the posted notice, so that he who +runs may read, that Wells Brothers have already claimed this range. I'll +furnish you a pencil and scrap of paper, and you can make a copy of the +formal notice and show it to your partner. Then, if you feel strong +enough to outrage all range customs, move in and throw down your glove. +I've met an accident recently, leaving me a cripple, but I'll agree to +get in the saddle and pick up the gauntlet." + +The novice led his horse aside as if to mount. "I fail to see the object +in claiming more range than one can occupy. It raises a legal question," +said he, mounting. + +"Custom is the law of the range," replied Forrest. "The increase of a +herd must be provided for, and a year or two's experience of beginners +like you usually throws cattle on the market. Abundance of range is a +good asset. Joel, get the gentleman a pencil and sheet of paper." + +"Not at all necessary," remarked the amateur cowman, reining away. "I +suppose the range is for sale?" he called out, without halting. + +"Yes, but folks who prefer to intrude are usually poor buyers," shouted +the crippled Texan. + +Joel was alarmed and plied Forrest with a score of questions. The boy +had tasted the thrill of ownership of cattle and possession of a range, +and now the envy of others had threatened his interests. + +"Don't be alarmed," soothingly said the wounded man. "This is like a +page from life, only twice as natural. It proves two things: that you +took your range in good time, and that it has a value. This very +afternoon you must push at least one hundred cattle up to those springs +above Hackberry Grove. Let them track and trample around the water and +noon in the shade of the motte. That's possession, and possession is +nine points, and the other fellow can have the tenth. If any one wants +to dispute your rights or encroach on them, I'll mount a horse and go to +the trail for help. The Texans are the boys to insist on range customs +being respected. It's time I was riding a little, anyhow." + +Dell returned from scouting the trail, and reported two herds due to +reach the Beaver that evening. "I spent an hour with one of the foremen +around the ford," said he to Forrest; "and he says if you want to see +him, you had better come down to the crossing. He knows you, and makes +out you ain't much hurt. He says if you come down, he'll give you a +quarter of beef and a speckled heifer. He's one of Jess +Pressnell's bosses." + +"That's the word I'm waiting for," laughed Forrest. "Corral the horses +and fix up some kind of a mounting block. It'll take a scaffold to get +me on a horse, but I can fall off. Make haste, because hereafter we +must almost live on horseback." + +The words proved true. Forrest and Dell, the latter bareback, returned +to the trail, while Joel rode to drift their cattle up the Beaver, in +order to be in possession of Hackberry Grove and its living springs. The +plains of the West were a lawless country, and if its pioneers would not +respect its age-old pastoral customs, then the consequences must be +met or borne. + +Three weeks had passed since the accident to Forrest, the herds were +coming with a vengeance, and the scene of activity changed from the +homestead to the trail crossing. Forrest did not return for a week, +foraging on the wagons, camping with the herds, and never failing to +levy, to the extent of his ability to plead, on cattle, horses, and +needful supplies. As many as five and six herds arrived in a single day, +none of which were allowed to pass without an appeal: if strangers, in +behalf of a hospital; if among friends, the simple facts were +sufficient. Dell was kept on the move with bunches of cattle, or +freighting the caches to the homestead, while Joel received the +different contingents and scouted the threatened range. + +Among old acquaintances there was no denying Forrest, and Dell fell +heir to the first extra saddle found among the effects of a trail +outfit. The galled horses had recovered serviceable form, affording each +of the boys a mount, and even the threatened cloud against the range +lifted. The herd of a thousand cows crossed the Beaver, and Forrest took +particular pains to inform its owners of the whereabouts of unclaimed +range the year before. Evidently the embryo cowmen had taken heed and +inquired into range customs, and were accordingly profuse with +disclaimers of any wrong intent. + +The first three weeks of July saw the bulk of the herds north of the +Beaver. Water and range had been taken advantage of in the trailing of +cattle to the Northwest, fully three hundred thousand head having +crossed from Dodge to Ogalalla. The exodus afforded the boys an insight +into pastoral life, brought them in close contact with the men of the +open, drove false ideas from their immature minds, and assisted in the +laying of those early foundations on which their future manhood +must rest. + +Dell spent every chance hour with the trail men. He and Forrest slept +with the wagons, met the herds, and piloted them in to the best water. +The fact that only experienced men were employed on the trail made the +red-headed boy a welcome guest with every herd, while the wide +acquaintance of his crippled sponsor assured the lad every courtesy of +camp and road. Dell soon learned that the position of point man usually +fell to a veteran of the range, and one whose acquaintance was worthy of +cultivation, both in the saddle and around the camp-fire. + +"I'm going to be a point man," Dell confided to Forrest, on one of their +trips up to the homestead. "He don't seem to have much to do, and nearly +always rides with one leg across his horse's neck." + +"That's the idea," assented Forrest. "Aim high. Of course, you'll have +to begin as a drag man, then a few trips to Montana in the swing, and +after that you have a right to expect a place on the point. The trouble +is, you are liable to slip back a notch or two at any time. Here I've +been a foreman in other years, and this trip I was glad to make a hand. +There's so many slips, and we can't be all point men and bosses. Cooks +and horse wranglers are also useful men." + +The first serious cloud to hover over the new ranch appeared early +during the last week in July. Forrest's wounds had nearly healed, and he +was wondering if his employer would make a further claim on his +services during that summer, which was probable at the hands of a drover +with such extensive interests. He and Dell were still patrolling the +ford on Beaver, when one evening a conveyance from the railroad to the +south drove up to the crossing. It brought a telegram from Don Lovell, +requesting the presence of Forrest in Dodge City, and the messenger, a +liveryman from Buffalo, further assured him that transportation was +awaiting him at that station. There were no grounds on which to refuse +the summons, indefinite and devoid of detail as it was, and preparations +were immediately made to return with the liveryman. What few cattle had +been secured during that trip were drifted up the creek, when all +returned to the homestead for the night. + +To Dell and Joel the situation looked serious. The crippled man, +helpless as he was at first, had proven their rock of refuge, and now +that he was leaving them, a tenderness of unnoticed growth was revealed. +As an enforced guest, he had come to them at a moment when their poverty +had protested at receiving him, his unselfishness in their behalf had +proven his friendship and gratitude beyond question, and the lesson was +not lost on the parentless waifs. + +On the other hand, Forrest lightened all depression of spirits. "Don't +worry," said he to the boys. "Just as sure as water runs and grass +grows, I'll come over this trail again. So far in life, I've never done +any good for myself, and I'm going to play this hand out and see if you +lads land on your feet. Now, don't get the idea that I've done any great +feat in rustling you boys a few cows. It's one of the laws of life, that +often we can do for others what we can't do for ourselves. That sounds +like preaching, but it isn't. Actually, I'm ashamed of myself, that I +didn't get you double the number of cattle. What we did skirmish +together was merely the flotsam of the trail, the crumbs that fall from +the supper table, and all obligations to me are overpaid. If I could +have had just a few tears on tap, with that hospital talk, and you boys +being poor and orphans--shucks! I must be getting doty--that plea was +good for a thousand strays and cripples!" + +The brothers took courage. So far their chief asset was a fine range. +Nearly three hundred and fifty cattle, imperfect as the titles to many +of them were, had been secured and were occupying the valley. A round +dozen cow ponies, worthless for the present, but which in time would +round into form, were added to the new ranch. Every passing commissary +had laughed at the chance to discard its plunder and useless staples, +and only the departure of the man behind the venture, standing in the +shadow as it were, threw a depression over the outlook. + +Funds, with which to pay his reckoning, had been left with Forrest. The +boys had forgotten the original agreement, and it was only with tact and +diplomacy that a snug sum, against his protest and embarrassment, was +forced on Joel. "It don't come off me," said the departing man, "and it +may come handy with you. There's a long winter ahead, and the fight +ain't near won yet. The first year in starting a ranch is always the +hardest. But if you boys can only hold these cattle until grass comes +again, it's the making of you. You know the boy is father to the man, +and if you are true-blue seed corn--well, I'll bet on two ears to +the stock." + +Forrest's enthusiasm tempered the parting. The start for the railroad +was made at daybreak, and in taking leave, each boy held a hand, shaking +it heartily from time to time, as if to ratify the general advice. "I'll +make Dodge in two days," said the departing guest, "and then I'll know +the meaning of this wire. It means something--that's sure. In the mean +time, sit square in your saddles, ride your range, and let the idea run +riot that you are cowmen. Plan, scheme, and devise for the future. +That's all until you hear from me or see my sign in the sky. +Adios, senors." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SUNSHINE AND SHADOW + + +An entire week passed, during which the boys were alone. A few herds +were still coming over the trail, but for lack of an advocate to plead, +all hope of securing more cattle must be foregone. Forrest had only +taken his saddle, abandoning for the present all fixtures contributed +for his comfort on arriving at the homestead, including the horses of +his employers. The lads were therefore left an abundance of mounts, all +cattle were drifted above the ranch, and plans for the future +considered. + +Winter must be met and confronted. "We must have forage for our saddle +horses," said Joel to his brother, the evening after Forrest's +departure. "The rain has helped our corn until it will make fodder, but +that isn't enough. Pa cut hay in this valley, and I know where I can mow +a ton any morning. Mr. Quince said we'd have to stable a saddle horse +apiece this winter, and those mules will have to be fed. The grass has +greened up since the rain, and it will be no trick at all to make ten +to fifteen tons of hay. Help me grind the scythe, and we'll put in every +spare hour haying. While you ride around the cattle every morning, I +can mow." + +A farm training proved an advantage to the boys. Before coming West, +their father had owned a mowing machine, but primitive methods prevailed +on the frontier, and he had been compelled to use a scythe in his haying +operations. Joel swung the blade like a veteran, scattering his swath to +cure in the sun, and with whetstone on steel, beat a frequent tattoo. +The raking into windrows and shocking at evening was an easy task for +the brothers, no day passing but the cured store was added to, until +sufficient was accumulated to build a stack. That was a task which tried +their mettle, but once met and overcome, it fortified their courage to +meet other ordeals. + +"I wish Mr. Quince could see that stack of hay," admiringly said Dell, +on the completion of the first effort. "There must be five tons in it. +And it's as round as an apple. I can't remember when I've worked so hard +and been so hungry. No wonder the Texan despises any work he can't do on +horseback. But just the same, they're dear, good fellows. I wish Mr. +Quince could live with us always. He's surely a good forager." + +The demand for range was accented anew. One evening two strangers rode +up the creek and asked for a night's lodging. They were made welcome, +and proved to be Texas cowmen, father and son, in search of pasturage +for a herd of through cattle. There was an open frankness about the +wayfarers that disarmed every suspicion of wrong intent, and the +brothers met their inquiries with equal candor. + +"And you lads are Wells Brothers?" commented the father, in kindly +greeting. "We saw your notice, claiming this range, at the trail +crossing, and followed your wagon track up the creek. Unless the market +improves, we must secure range for three thousand two-year-old steers. +Well, we'll get acquainted, anyhow." + +The boys naturally lacked commercial experience in their new occupation. +The absence of Forrest was sorely felt, and only the innate kindness of +the guests allayed all feeling of insecurity. As the evening wore on, +the old sense of dependence brought the lads in closer touch with the +strangers, the conversation running over the mutual field of range and +cattle matters. + +"What is the reason," inquired Joel, "that so many cattle are leaving +your State for the upper country?" + +"The reasons are numerous and valid," replied the older cowman. "It's +the natural outgrowth or expansion of the pastoral interests of our +State. Before the opening of the trail, for years and years, Texas +clamored for an outlet for its cattle. Our water supply was limited, the +State is subject to severe drouth, the cattle were congesting on our +ranges, with neither market inquiry or demand. The subjection of the +Indian was followed by a sudden development of the West, the Texas and +Montana cattle trail opened, and the pastoral resources of our State +surprised the world. Last year we sent eight hundred thousand cattle +over the trail, and they were not missed at home. That's the reason I'm +your guest to-night; range has suddenly become valuable in Texas." + +"There is also an economic reason for the present exodus of cattle," +added the young man. "Our State is a natural breeding ground, but we +can't mature into marketable beef. Nearly twenty years' experience has +proven that a northern climate is necessary to fatten and bring our +Texas cattle to perfect maturity. Two winters in the North will insure a +gain of from three to four hundred pounds' extra weight more per head +than if allowed to reach maturity on their native heath. This gain +fully doubles the value of every hoof, and is a further motive why we +are your guests to-night; we are looking for a northern range on which +to mature our steer cattle." + +The boys were grasping the fact that in their range they had an asset of +value. Less than two months before, they were on the point of abandoning +their home as worthless, not capable of sustaining life, the stone which +the builders rejected, and now it promised a firm foundation to their +future hopes. The threatened encroachment of a few weeks previous, and +the causes of demand, as explained by their guests, threw a new light on +range values and made the boys doubly cautious. Was there a possible +tide in the primitive range, which taken at its flood would lead these +waifs to fortune? + +The next morning the guests insisted on looking over the upper valley of +the Beaver. + +"In the first place," said the elder Texan, "let it be understood that +we respect your rights to this range. If we can reach some mutual +agreement, by purchase or rental, good enough, but not by any form of +intrusion. We might pool our interests for a period of years, and the +rental would give you lads a good schooling. There are many advantages +that might accrue by pooling our cattle. At least, there is no harm in +looking over the range." + +"They can ride with me as far as Hackberry Grove," said Dell. "None of +our cattle range over a mile above the springs, and from there I can +nearly point out the limits of our ranch." + +"You are welcome to look over the range," assentingly said Joel, "but +only on condition that any agreement reached must be made with Mr. +Quince Forrest, now at Dodge." + +"That will be perfectly agreeable," said the older cowman. "No one must +take any advantage of you boys." + +The trio rode away, with Dell pointing out around the homestead the +different beaver dams in the meanderings of the creek. Joel resumed his +mowing, and near noon sighted a cavalcade of horses coming down the dim +road which his father used in going to Culbertson. A wagon followed, and +from its general outlines the boy recognized it to be a cow outfit, +heading for their improvements. Hastening homeward, he found Paul +Priest, the gray-haired foreman, who had passed northward nearly two +months before, sitting under the sunshade before the tent. + +"Howdy, bud," said Priest languidly in greeting. "Now, let me +think--Howdy, Joel!" + +No prince could have been more welcome. The men behind the boys had +been sadly missed, and the unexpected appearance of Priest filled every +want. "Sit down," said the latter. "First, don't bother about getting +any dinner; my outfit will make camp on the creek, and we'll have a +little spread. Yes, I know; Forrest's in Dodge; old man Don told me he +needed him. Where's your brother?" + +"Dell's gone up the creek with some cowmen from Texas," admitted Joel. +"They're looking for a range. I told them any agreement reached must be +made with Mr. Quince. But now that you are here, you will do just as +well. They'll be in soon." + +"I'm liable to tell them to ride on," said the gray-haired foreman. "I'm +jealous, and I want it distinctly understood that I'm a silent partner +in this ranch. How many cattle have you?" + +"Nearly three hundred and fifty, not counting the calves." + +"Forrest only rustled you three hundred and fifty cattle? The lazy +wretch--he ought to be hung for ingratitude!" + +"Oh, no," protested Joel; "Mr. Quince has been a father to Dell and +myself." + +"Wait until I come back from Dodge, and I'll show you what a rustler I +am," said Priest, arising to give his horse to the wrangler and issue +directions in regard to camping. + +The arrival of Dell and the cowmen prevented further converse between +Priest and his protege. For the time being a soldier's introduction +sufficed between the Texans, but Dell came in for a rough caress. "What +do you think of the range?" inquired the trail foreman, turning to the +men, and going direct to the subject. + +"It meets every requirement for ranching," replied the elder cowman, +"and I'm going to make these boys a generous offer." + +"This man will act for us," said Joel to the two cowmen, with a jerk of +his thumb toward Priest. + +"Well, that's good," said the older man, advancing to Priest. "My name +is Allen, and this is my son Hugh." + +"And my name is Priest, a trail foreman in the employ of Don Lovell," +said the gray-haired man, shaking hands with the Texans. + +"Mr. Lovell was expected in Dodge the day we left," remarked the younger +man in greeting. "We had hopes of selling him our herd." + +"What is your county?" inquired the trail boss, searching his pockets +for a telegram. + +"Comanche." + +"And when did you leave Dodge?" + +"Just ten days ago." + +"Then you need no range--your cattle are sold," said Priest, handing the +older man a telegram. + +The two scanned the message carefully, and the trail foreman continued: +"This year my herd was driven to fill a sub-contract, and we delivered +it last week at old Camp Clark, on the North Platte. From there the main +contractor will trail the beef herd up to the Yellowstone. Old man Don +was present at the delivery, and when I got back to Ogalalla with the +oufit, that message was awaiting me. I'm now on my way to Dodge to +receive the cattle. They go to the old man's beef ranch on the Little +Missouri. It says three thousand Comanche County two-year-olds, +don't it?" + +"It's our cattle," said the son to his father. "We have the only +straight herd of Comanche County two-year-olds at Dodge City. That +commission man said he would sell them before we got back." + +The elder Texan turned to the boys with a smile. "I reckon we'll have to +declare all negotiations off regarding this range. I had several good +offers to make you, and I'm really sorry at this turn of events. I had +figured out a leasing plan, whereby the rentals of this range would +give you boys a fine schooling, and revert to you on the eldest +attaining his majority. We could have pooled our cattle, and your +interests would have been carried free." + +"You needn't worry about these boys," remarked Priest, with an air of +interest; "they have silent partners. As to schooling, I've known some +mighty good men who never punched the eyes out of the owl in their old +McGuffy spelling-book." + +A distant cry of dinner was wafted up the creek. "That's a welcome +call," said Priest, arising. "Come on, everybody. My cook has orders to +tear his shirt in getting up a big dinner." + +A short walk led to the camp. "This outfit looks good to me," said the +elder cowman to Priest, "and you can count on my company to the +railroad." + +"You're just the man I'm looking for," replied the trail boss. "We're +making forty miles a day, and you can have charge until we reach Dodge." + +"But I only volunteered as far as the railroad," protested the genial +Texan. + +"Yes; but then I know you cowmen," contended Priest. "You have lived +around a wagon so long and love cow horses so dearly, that you simply +can't quit my outfit to ride on a train. Two o'clock is the hour for +starting, and I'll overtake you before evening." + +The outfit had been reduced to six men, the remainder having been +excused and sent home from Ogalalla. The remuda was in fine condition, +four changes of mounts a day was the rule, and on the hour named, the +cavalcade moved out, leaving its foreman behind. "Angle across the plain +and enter the trail on the divide, between here and the Prairie Dog," +suggested Priest to his men. "We will want to touch here coming back, +and the wagon track will point the way. Mr. Allen will act as segundo." + +Left to themselves, the trio resolved itself into a ways and means +committee. "I soldiered four years," said Priest to the boys, once the +sunshade was reached, "and there's nothing that puts spirit and courage +into the firing line like knowing that the reserves are strong. It's +going to be no easy task to hold these cattle this winter, and now is +the time to bring up the ammunition and provision the camp. The army +can't march unless the mules are in condition, and you must be well +mounted to handle cattle. Ample provision for your saddle stock is the +first requirement." + +"We're putting up a ton of hay a day," said Joel, "and we'll have two +hundred shocks of fodder." + +"That's all right for rough forage, but you must have corn for your +saddle stock," urged the man. "Without grain for the mounts, cavalry is +useless. I think the railroad supplies, to settlers along its line, +coal, lumber, wire, and other staples at cost. I'll make inquiry +to-morrow and let you know when we return. One hundred bushels of corn +would make the forage reserves ample for the winter." + +"We've got money enough to buy it," admitted Joel. "I didn't want to +take it, but Mr. Quince said it would come in handy." + +"That covers the question of forage, then," said Priest. "Now comes the +question of corrals and branding." + +"Going to brand the calves?" impulsively inquired Dell, jumping at +conclusions. + +"The calves need not be branded before next spring," replied the +practical man, "but the herd must be branded this fall. If a blizzard +struck the cattle on the open, they would drift twenty miles during a +night. These through Texas cattle have been known to drift five hundred +miles during the first winter. You must guard against a winter drift, +and the only way is to hold your cattle under herd. If you boys let +these cattle out of your hand, away from your control, they'll drift +south to the Indian reservations and be lost. You must hold them in +spite of storms, and you will need a big, roomy inclosure in which to +corral the herd at night." + +"There's the corn field," suggested Dell. + +"It has no shelter," objected Priest. "Your corral must protect against +the north and west winds." + +"The big bend's the place," said Joel. "The creek makes a perfect +horseshoe, with bluff banks almost twenty feet high on the north and +northwest. One hundred yards of fencing would inclose five acres. Our +cows used to shelter there. It's only a mile above the house." + +"What's the soil, and how about water?" inquired the gray-haired +foreman, arising. + +"It's a sand-bar, with a ripple and two long pools in the circle of the +creek," promptly replied Joel. + +"Bring in the horses," said Priest, looking at his watch; "I'll have +time to look it over before leaving." + +While awaiting the horses, the practical cowman outlined to Joel certain +alterations to the corral at the stable, which admitted of the addition +of a branding chute. "You must cut and haul the necessary posts and +timber before my return, and when we pass north, my outfit will build +you a chute and brand your cattle the same day. Have the materials on +the ground, and I'll bring any needful hardware from the railroad." + +A short canter brought the committee to the big bend. The sand-bar was +overgrown with weeds high as a man's shoulder on horseback, but the +leader, followed by the boys, forced his mount through the tangle until +the bend was circled. "It's an ideal winter shelter," said Priest, +dismounting to step the entrance, as a preliminary measurement. "A +hundred and ten yards," he announced, a few minutes later, "coon-skin +measurement. You'll need twenty heavy posts and one hundred stays. I'll +bring you a roll of wire. That water's everything; a thirsty cow chills +easily. Given a dry bed and contented stomach, in this corral your herd +can laugh at any storm. It's almost ready made, and there's nothing +niggardly about its proportions." + +"When will we put the cattle under herd?" inquired Dell as the trio rode +homeward. + +"Oh, about the second snowstorm," replied Priest. "After squaw winter's +over, there's usually a month to six weeks of Indian summer. It might be +as late as the first of December, but it's a good idea to loose-herd +awhile; ride around them evening and morning, corral them and leave the +gates open, teach them to seek a dry, cosy bed, at least a month before +putting the cattle under close-herd. Teach them to drink in the corral, +and then they'll want to come home. You boys will just about have to +live with your little herd this winter." + +"We wintered here once," modestly said Joel, "and I'm sure we can do it +again. The storms are the only thing to dread, and we can weather them." + +"Of course you can," assured the trail boss. "It's a ground-hog case; +it's hold these cattle or the Indians will eat them for you. Lost during +one storm, and your herd is lost for good." + +"And about horses: will one apiece be enough?" queried Joel. "Mr. Quince +thought two stabled ones would do the winter herding." + +"One corn-fed pony will do the work of four grass horses," replied the +cowman. "Herding is no work for horses, provided you spare them. If you +must, miss your own dinner, but see that your horse gets his. Dismount +and strip the bridle off at every chance, and if you guard against +getting caught out in storms, one horse apiece is all you need." + +On reaching the homestead, Priest shifted his saddle to a horse in +waiting, and announced his regrets at being compelled to limit his +visit. "It may be two weeks before I return," said he, leading his horse +from the corral to the tent, "but we'll point in here and lend a hand in +shaping you up for winter. Forrest is liable to have a herd of his own, +and in that case, there will be two outfits of men. More than likely, +we'll come through together." + +Hurried as he professed to be, the trail foreman pottered around as if +time was worthless, but finally mounted. "Now the commissary is +provisioned," said he, in summing up the situation, "to stand a winter's +siege, the forage is ample, the corral and branding chute is half +done--well, I reckon we're the boys to hold a few cattle. Honest Injun, +I hope it will storm enough this winter to try you out; just to see what +kind of thoroughbreds you really are. And if any one else offers to buy +an interest in this range," he called back, as a happy afterthought, +"just tell them that you have all the partners you need." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + + +The brief visit of Priest proved a tonic to the boys. If a firing line +of veteran soldiers can be heartened, surely the spirit and courage of +orphan waifs needed fortifying against the coming winter. The elements +have laughed at the hopes and ambitions of a conqueror, and an +invincible army has trailed its banners in the snow, unable to cope with +the rigors of the frost king. The lads bent anew to their tasks with a +cheerfulness which made work mere play, sweetening their frugal fare, +and bringing restful sleep. The tie which began in a mercenary agreement +had seemingly broken its bonds, and in lieu, through the leaven of human +love, a new covenant had been adopted. + +"If it's a dry, open winter," said Dell at breakfast next morning, +"holding these cattle will be nothing. The water holds them now +without herding." + +[Illustration: JOEL WELLS AND HIS SPANISH COW-PONY] + +"Yes," replied Joel, "but we must plan to meet the worst possible +winter. A blizzard gives little warning, and the only way to overcome +one is to be fully prepared. That's what Mr. Paul means by bringing up +the ammunition. We must provide so as to be able to withstand a +winter siege." + +"Well, what's lacking?" insisted Dell. + +"Fuel. Take an axe with you this morning, and after riding around the +cattle, cut and collect the dead and fallen timber in Hackberry Grove. +Keep an eye open for posts and stays--I'll cut them while you're hauling +wood. Remember we must have the materials on the ground when Mr. Paul +returns, to build a corral and branding chute." + +Axe and scythe were swung that morning with renewed energy. Within a +week the required amount of hay was in stack, while the further supply +of forage, promised in the stunted corn, was daily noted in its +advancing growth. + +Without delay the scene of activity shifted. The grove was levied on, a +change of axe-men took place, while the team even felt a new impetus by +making, instead of one, two round trips daily. The fuel supply grew, not +to meet a winter's, but a year's requirements. Where strength was +essential, only the best of timber was chosen, and well within the time +limit the materials for corral and branding chute were at hand on the +ground. One task met and mastered, all subsequent ones seemed easier. + +"We're ahead of time," said Joel with a quiet air of triumph, as the +last load of stays reached the corral site. "If we only knew the plans, +we might dig the post-holes. The corn's still growing, and it won't do +to cut until it begins to ripen--until the sugar rises in the stock. We +can't turn another wheel until Mr. Paul returns." + +Idleness was galling to Joel Wells. "We'll ride the range to-day," he +announced the following morning. "From here to the ford doesn't matter, +but all the upper tributaries ought to be known. We must learn the +location of every natural shelter. If a storm ever cuts us off from the +corrals, we must point the herd for some other port." + +"The main Beaver forks only a few miles above Hackberry Grove," +suggested Dell. + +"Then we'll ride out the south fork to-day and come back through the +sand hills. There must be some sheltered nooks in that range of dunes." + +That the morning hour has gold in its mouth, an unknown maxim at the new +ranch, mattered nothing. The young cowmen were up and away with the +rising sun, riding among and counting the different bunches of cattle +encountered, noting the cripples, and letting no details of the +conditions of the herd, in their leisurely course up the creek, escape +their vigilance. + +The cattle tallied out to an animal, and were left undisturbed on their +chosen range. Two hours' ride brought the boys to the forks of the +Beaver, and by the middle of the forenoon the south branch of the creek +was traced to its source among the sand dunes. If not inviting, the +section proved interesting, with its scraggy plum brush, its unnumbered +hills, and its many depressions, scalloped out of the sandy soil by the +action of winds. Coveys of wild quail were encountered, prairie chicken +took wing on every hand, and near the noon hour a monster gray wolf +arose from a sunny siesta on the summit of a near-by dune, and sniffed +the air in search of the cause of disturbance. Unseen, the boys reined +in their horses, a windward breeze favored the view for a moment, when +ten nearly full-grown cubs also arose and joined their mother in +scenting the horsemen. It was a rare glimpse of wary beasts, and like a +flash of light, once the human scent was detected, mother and whelps +skulked and were lost to sight in an instant. + +"They're an enemy of cattle," whispered Joel when the cubs appeared. +"The young ones are not old enough yet to hunt alone, and are still +following their mother. Their lair is in these hills, and if this proves +a cold winter, hunger will make them attack our cattle before spring. We +may have more than storms to fight. There they go." + +"How are we to fight them?" timidly asked Dell. "We have neither dog nor +gun." + +"Mr. Paul will know," replied Joel with confidence. "They'll not bother +us while they can get food elsewhere." + +The shelter of a wolf-pack's lair was not an encouraging winter refuge +to drifting cattle. The boys even shook out their horses for a short +gallop in leaving the sand dunes, and breathed easier once the open of +the plain was reached. Following a low watershed, the brothers made a +wide detour from the Beaver, but on coming opposite the homestead, near +the middle of the afternoon, they turned and rode directly for the +ranch, where a welcome surprise greeted them. + +Four men were at work on the branding chute. A single glance revealed +both Priest and Forrest among the quartette. On riding up to the stable +corral, in the rough reception which followed, the lads were fairly +dragged from their saddles amid hearty greetings. "Well, here we are +again, and as busy as cranberry merchants," said Priest, once order +was restored. + +"Where's your herd?" inquired Joel. + +"He hasn't any," interrupted Forrest; "he's working for me. About this +time to-morrow evening, I'll split this ranch wide open with two herds, +each of thirty-five hundred two-year-old steers. I'm coming with some +style this time. You simply can't keep a good man down." + +"There were two herds instead of one to go to the old man's beef ranch," +explained Priest. "We brought along a couple extra men and came through +a day ahead. We can't halt our cattle, but we can have the chute and +corrals nearly ready when the herds arrive. All we'll lack is the +hardware, and the wagons will reach here early during the afternoon." + +The homestead presented a busy scene for the remainder of the day. Every +old tool on the ranch was brought into service, and by twilight the +outlines of the branding chute had taken form. The stable corral was +built out of heavy poles and posts, with a capacity of holding near one +hundred cattle, and by a very slight alteration it could be enlarged, +with branding conveniences added. + +At this point it was deemed advisable to enlighten the boys regarding +the title of stray cattle. Forrest and Priest had talked the matter over +between themselves, and had decided that the simple truth concerning the +facts was the only course to adopt. The older of the two men, by the +consent of years, was delegated to instruct the lads, and when the +question of brands to be adopted by the new ranch was under +consideration, the chance presented itself. + +"In starting this ranch," said the gray-haired foreman to the boys, as +they all sat before the tent in the twilight, "we'll have to use two +brands. Cattle are conveyed from one owner to another by bill-of-sale. +In a big pastoral exodus like the present, it is simply impossible to +keep strays out of moving herds. They come in at night, steal in while a +herd is passing through thickets, while it is watering, and they may not +be noticed for a month. Under all range customs, strays are recognized +as flotsam. Title is impossible, and the best claim is due to the range +that gives them sustenance. It has always been customary to brand the +increase of strays to the range on which they are found, and that will +entitle you to all calves born of stray mothers." + +The brothers were intent listeners, and the man continued: "For fear of +winter drifting, and that they may be identified, we will run all these +strays into Two Bars on the left hip, which will be known as the +'Hospital' brand. For the present, that will give us an asylum for that +branch of flotsam gathered, and as trustees and owners of the range, all +increase will fall to Wells Brothers. However, in accepting this +deputyship, you do so with the understanding that the brand is merely a +tally-mark, and that in no way does it deprive the owner of coming +forward to prove and take possession of his property. This method +affords a refuge to all strays in your possession, and absolves you from +any evil intent. All other cattle coming under your control, with the +knowledge and consent of the owner or his agent, are yours in fee +simple, and we will run them into any brand you wish to adopt." + +"But suppose no one ever calls for these stray cows?" said Joel, +meditating. + +"Then let them live out their days in peace," advised Forrest. "The +weeds grow rankly wherever a cow dies, and that was the way their +ancestors went. One generation exempts you." + +The discovery of wolves in that immediate vicinity was not mentioned +until the following morning. The forces were divided between the tasks, +and as Priest and Joel rode up the valley to the site of the new corral, +the disclosure was made known. + +"Wolves? Why, certainly," said Priest, answering his own query. "Wolves +act as a barometer in forecasting the coming of storms. Their activity +or presence will warn you of the approach of blizzards, and you want to +take the hint and keep your weather eye open. When other food becomes +scarce, they run in packs and will kill cattle. You are perfectly safe, +as yours will be either under herd or in a corral. Wolves always single +out an animal to attack; they wouldn't dare enter an inclosure. Taken +advantage of in their hunger, they can be easily poisoned. A wolf dearly +loves kidney suet or fresh tallow, and by mixing strychnine with either, +they can be lured to their own destruction." + +The post-holes were dug extra deep for the corral. The work was +completed before noon, the gate being the only feature of interest. It +was made double, fifty feet wide, and fastened in the centre to a strong +post. The gate proper was made of wire, webbed together with stays, +admitting of a pliability which served a double purpose. By sinking an +extra post opposite each of the main ones, the flexibility of the gate +also admitted of making a perfect wing, aiding in the entrance or exit +of a herd. In fastening the gate in the centre short ropes were used, +and the wire web drawn taut to the tension of a pliable fence. "You boys +will find this short wing, when penning a herd, equal to an extra man," +assured the old foreman. + +The first round-up on the new ranch took place that afternoon. Forrest +took the extra men and boys, and riding to the extreme upper limits of +the range, threw out the drag-net of horsemen and turned homeward. The +cattle ranged within a mile or two on either side of the creek, and by +slowly closing in and drifting down the Beaver, the nucleus of the ranch +was brought into a compact herd. There was no hurry, as ample time must +be allowed for the arrival of the wagons and stretching of the wire, in +finishing and making ready the upper corral for its first reception of +cattle. There was a better reason for delay, which was held in reserve, +as a surprise for the boys. + +As expected, the wagons and remudas arrived at the new ranch hours in +advance of the herds. The horse wranglers were detailed by Priest, and +fitting an axle to the spool of wire, by the aid of ropes attached to +the pommels of two saddles, it was rolled up to the scene of its use at +an easy canter. The stretching of the wire was less than an hour's work, +the slack being taken up by the wranglers, ever upholding Texas +methods, from the pommels of saddles, while Priest clinched the strands +with staples at the proper tension. The gates were merely a pliable +extension of the fence, the flexible character requiring no hinges. +"Now, when the stays are interwoven through the wire, and fastened in +place with staples, there's a corral that will hold a thousand cattle," +said one of the wranglers admiringly. + +It was after sunset when the herd was penned. Forrest, after counting +the round-up to his satisfaction, detailed Dell and Joel to graze the +herd in a bend of the Beaver, out of sight and fully a mile above, and +taking the extra men returned to the homestead. The trail herds had +purposely arrived late, expecting to camp on the Beaver that night, and +were met by their respective foremen while watering for the day. In +receiving, at Dodge, two large herds of one-aged cattle, both foremen, +but more particularly Forrest, in the extra time at his command, had +levied on the flotsam of the herds from which his employer was buying, +until he had accumulated over one hundred cattle. Priest had secured, +among a few friends and the few herds with which he came in contact, +scarcely half that number, and still the two contingents made a very +material increase to the new ranch. + +The addition of these extra cattle was the surprise in reserve. Joel and +Dell had never dreamed of a further increase to the ranch stock, and +Forrest had timed the corralling of the original and late contingents as +the climax of the day's work. Detailing both of the boys on the point, +as the upper herd was nearing the corral, it was suddenly confronted by +another contingent, rounding a bend of the creek from the opposite +quarter. Priest had purposely detailed strange men, coached to the point +of blindness, in charge of the new addition, and when the two bunches +threatened to mix, every horseman present except the boys seemed blind +to the situation. + +Dell and Joel struggled in vain--the cattle mixed. "Well, well," said +Forrest, galloping up, "here's a nice come-off! Trust my own boys to +point a little herd into a corral, and they let two bunches of cattle +mix! Wouldn't that make a saint swear!" + +"Those other fellows had no man in the lead or on the point," protested +Dell dejectedly. "They were looking away off yonder, and their cattle +walked into ours. Where were you?" + +"One of my men was telling me about an old sweetheart of his down on +the Trinity River, and it made me absent-minded. I forgot what we were +doing. Well, it's too late in the day to separate them now. We'll pen +them until morning." + +The appearance of Priest and the readiness with which the strange men +assisted in corralling the herd shortly revealed the situation to the +crafty Joel. On the homeward canter, the gray-haired foreman managed to +drop a word which lightened Dell's depression and cleared up the +supposed error. + +That was a great night on the Beaver. The two wagons camped together, +the herds bedded on either side of the creek, and the outfits mingled +around the same camp-fire. Rare stories were told, old songs were sung, +the lusty chorus of which easily reached the night-herders, and was +answered back like a distant refrain. + +The next morning the herds moved out on their way without a wasted step. +Two men were detailed from each outfit, and with the foremen and the +boys, a branding crew stood ready for the task before them. The chute +had been ironed and bolted the evening previous, and long before the +early rays of the sun flooded the valley of the Beaver, the first +contingent of cattle arrived from the upper corral. + +The boys adopted Bar Y as their brand. The chute chambered ten grown +cattle, and when clutched in a vise-like embrace, with bars fore and +aft, the actual branding, at the hands of two trail foremen, was quickly +over. The main herd was cut into half a dozen bunches, and before the +noon hour arrived, the last hoof had passed under the running irons and +bore the new owner's brand or tally-mark. + +Only a short rest was allowed, as the herds were trailing the limit of +travel, and must be overtaken by evening. When crossing the railroad a +few days before, it was learned that Grinnell was the railroad depot for +settlers' supplies, and the boys were advised to file their order for +corn, and to advance a liberal payment to insure attention. All details +of the ranch seemed well in hand, the cattle were in good condition to +withstand a winter, and if spirit and confidence could be imparted, from +age to youth, the sponsors of the venture would have felt little concern +for the future. If a dry, open winter followed, success was assured; if +the reverse, was it right to try out the very souls of these waifs in a +wintry crucible? + +The foremen and their men left early in the afternoon. On reaching a +divide, which gave the party of horsemen a last glimpse of the Beaver, +the cavalcade halted for a parting look. + +"Isn't it a pretty range?" said Forrest, gazing far beyond the hazy +valley. "I wish we knew if those boys can stick out the winter." + +"Stick? We'll make them stick!" said Priest, in a tone as decisive as if +his own flesh and blood had been insulted. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT + + +The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the +plain. At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all +bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of +the waifs. Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from +pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted +of the wormwood in advance of their years. Toys such as other lads +played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and +only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs. In the +struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them. A happy +home they had never known, and the one memory of their childhood worthy +of remembrance was the love of a mother, which arose like a lily in the +mire of their lives, shedding its fragrance more fully as its loss +was realized. + +Joel was the more sensitive of the brothers. Forrest had fully discussed +the coming winter with the older lad, and as an incentive to +watchfulness had openly expressed doubt of the ability of the boys to +battle with the elements. The conversation was depressing, and on the +departure of the men, the boys resumed the discussion of the matter +at issue. + +"Mr. Quince thinks we can't hold these cattle," said Joel, watching the +receding horsemen. "He's afraid a storm will catch us several miles out +and cut us off from reaching the corral. Well, it will be my fault if +it does." + +Dell made a boastful remark, but the older boy only intensified his gaze +at the fading cavalcade. A vision of his youthful sufferings flashed +through his mind, and a mist, closely akin to tears, dimmed his eyes. He +had learned the lesson that poverty teaches, unaware that the storm +which rocks also roots the oak, but unable to make the comparison or +draw the inference between surrounding nature and himself. For an +instant the horsemen dipped from view, changing the scene, and a picture +rose up, a vision of the future, of independence, of a day when he would +take his place as a man among men. The past was beyond his control, its +bridges burned, but the future was worth battling for; and as if +encouraged by invisible helpers, the boy turned his face to the valley +of the Beaver. + +"We'll hold these cattle or starve," said he, unconsciously answering +his gray-haired sponsor, fading from sight over the last divide. "Hold +them. I can hold them alone." + +"There's no danger of starving," commented Dell, following his brother +into the tent. "We have provisions for a year." + +"Then we'll hold the herd or freeze," answered Joel, almost hissing the +words--words which became a slogan afterward. + +The cattle drifted back to their chosen range. The late addition mixed +and mingled with the others, now attached to the valley, with its +abundance of grass and water. Nothing was said about the first four +horses, from which the boys understood that they were, at least for the +present, left in their charge. All told, sixteen horses, fully half of +which were fit for saddle, were at the service of the ranch, ample in +number in proportion to the cattle secured. + +It was only the middle of August. An accident, and a little over two +months' time, had changed the character of the Beaver valley. With no +work pressing, the brothers rode the range, circling farther to the west +and south, until any country liable to catch a winter drift became +familiar to sight. Northward ho! the slogan of every drover had ceased, +and the active trail of a month before had been deserted. The new ranch +had no neighbors, the nearest habitation was on the railroad to the +south, and the utter loneliness of the plain was only overcome by active +work. To those who love them, cattle and horses are good company, and in +their daily rides the lads became so familiar with the herd that in the +absence of brands they could have readily identified every animal by +flesh marks alone. Under almost constant contact with the boys, the +cattle became extremely gentle, while the calves even grew so +indifferent that they reluctantly arose from their beds to avoid a +passing horseman. + +The cutting, curing, and garnering home the field of corn was a welcome +task. It augmented the forage supply, assuring sustenance to the saddle +horses, an important feature in withstanding the coming winter siege. An +ideal fall favored the ranch, the dry weather curing the buffalo grass +on the divides, until it was the equal of hay, thus assuring the cattle +of ample grazing until spring. The usual squaw winter passed in a swirl +of snow, a single angry day, to be followed by a month of splendid +Indian summer. Its coming warned the lads; the order for corn was +placed; once a week the cattle were brought in and corralled, and the +ranch was made snug against the wintry months. + +The middle of November was as early as the railroad would agree to +deliver the corn. It would take three days to go and come, and an equal +number of round trips would be required to freight the grain from the +railroad to the ranch. The corn had been shelled and sacked at elevator +points, eastward in the State, and in encouraging emigration the +railroad was glad to supply the grain at cost and freightage. + +The hauling fell to Joel. He had placed the order, making a deposit, and +identification was necessary with the agent. On the very first trip to +Grinnell, a mere station on the plain, a surprise awaited the earnest +boy. As if he were a citizen of the hamlet, and in his usual quiet way, +Paul Priest greeted Joel on his arrival. The old foreman had secretly +left a horse with the railroad agent at Buffalo, where the trail +crossed, had kept in touch with the delivery of corn at stations +westward, and had timed his affairs so as to meet and pay a final visit +to his protegees. + +"A battle is sometimes lost by a very slight oversight or accident," +said the man to the boy. "The ammunition may get damaged, slippery +ground might prevent the placing of a battery at an opportune moment, +or the casting of a horse's shoe might delay a courier with an important +order. I feel an interest in your little ranch, and when I know that +everything is done that can be done to fortify against the coming +winter, I'll go home feeling better. There is such a thing as killing +the spirit of a soldier, and if I were to let you boys try and fail, it +would affect your courage to face the future. That's the reason I've +dropped off to take a last look at your lines of intrenchment. We've got +to hold those cattle." + +"Mr. Quince thinks we won't, but let the winter come as it may, we're +going to hold the herd," simply said the boy. + +There was a resolution, an earnestness, in the words of the lad that +pleased the man. "Your Mr. Quince has seen some cold winters on the +range," said the latter, "and that's the reason he fears the worst. But +come as it will, if we do all in our power, put up the best fight in us, +and fail, then we are blameless. But with my experience, if I let you +fail, when you might have won, then I have done you an injury." + +That was the platform on which men and boys stood, the outline on which +their mutual venture must stand or fall, and admitted of no shirking on +the part of any one. The most minute detail, down to a change of clean +saddle blankets, for winter work, must be fully understood. The death of +a horse in which reliance rested, at an unfortunate moment, might mean +the loss of the herd, and a clean, warm blanket on a cold day was the +merciful forethought of a man for his beast. No damp, frosty, or frozen +blanket must be used on the Wells ranch. + +On the return trip, an early start was made. A night camp was necessary, +at the halfway point, the dread of which was robbed of its terrors by +the presence of a veteran of the open. Before leaving the depot, Priest +unearthed a number of bundles, "little things that might come in handy," +among which was a sack of salt and two empty oak barrels. The latter +provoked an inquiry from Joel, and an explanation was forced at +the moment. + +"Did you notice a big steer that came in with the last cattle, and which +was overlooked in branding?" inquired Priest, meeting the boy's query +with a question. + +"A mottled beef, branded 7L?" + +"That's the steer. Why do you reckon we overlooked branding him?" + +"Dell and I thought it was an oversight." + +"When you see what I'm going to do with that salt and these barrels, +then you'll see that it was no neglect. That steer has undergone several +Northern winters, has reached his prime, and the governor's cellar won't +have any better corn beef this winter than the Wells ranch. Seven or +eight hundred pounds of pickled beef is an important item in the winter +intrenchments. In fact, it's an asset to any cow camp. There are so many +little things that may come in handy." + +The second morning out from the station, Priest bore off on a course +that would land him well above the grove on the Beaver. He had never +been over the range, and not wishing to waste a day with a loaded wagon, +he angled away for the sand hills which formed the divide, sloping away +to the branches of the main creek. Noon found him on the south fork; +cattle were encountered near the juncture, and as he approached the +grove, a horseman rode out as if to dispute the passage of an intruder. +The old foreman noticed the boyish figure and delayed the meeting, +reining in to critically examine cattle which he had branded some three +months before. With diligent intent, the greeting was kept pending, the +wayfarer riding away on a tangent and veering back on his general +course, until Dell's suspicion was aroused. The return of Priest was so +unexpected that the boy's eyes filled with tears, and the two rode +along until the grove was reached, when they dismounted. + +"If I had known that you were coming," said Dell, "I could have made +coffee here. It was so lonesome at the ranch that I was spending the day +among the cattle." + +"A cowman expects to miss his dinner occasionally," admitted Priest; +"that's why they all look so long and hungry. Where does that 7L +steer range?" + +"The big mottled fellow?--Why, down near the corral," replied the boy, +repeating and answering the question. + +"I want to look him over," simply said the old foreman. + +The two remounted and continued down the valley. The noon hour had +brought the herd in for its daily water, and no animal was overlooked on +the homeward ride. The summer gloss had passed and the hairy, shaggy, +winter coats of the cattle almost hid the brands, while three to six +months' rest on a perfect range was reflected in the splendid condition +of the general herd. + +"That's one feature of the winter intrenchments that needn't worry us," +said Priest; "the cattle have the tallow to withstand any +ordinary winter." + +"And the horses are all rolling fat," added Dell. "They range below the +ranch; and there isn't a cripple or sore back among them. There's the +mottled steer." + +They were nearing the last contingent of cattle. Priest gave the +finished animal a single glance, and smiled. "Outsiders say," said he, +"that it's a maxim among us Texans never to eat your own beef. The adage +is worth transplanting. We'll beef him. The lines of intrenchment are +encouraging." + +The latter remarks were not fully understood by Dell, but on the arrival +of the wagon that evening, and a short confidence between the brothers, +the horizon cleared. Aside from the salt and barrels, there were +sheepskin-lined coats and mittens, boots of heavy felting, flannels over +and under, as if the boys were being outfitted for a polar expedition. +"It may all come in handy," said a fatherly voice, "and a soldier out on +sentinel duty ought to be made comfortable. In holding cattle this +winter, it's part of the intrenchments." + +A cyclone cellar served as a storeroom for the sacked corn. Joel was +away by early sun-up, on the second trip to the station, while those +left behind busied themselves in strengthening the commissary. The +barrels were made sweet and clean with scalding water, knives were +ground, and a crude platform erected for cooling out meat. Dell, on the +tip-toe of expectancy, danced attendance, wondering how this quiet man +would accomplish his ends, and unable to wholly restrain his curiosity. + +"Watch me closely," was the usual reply. "You will probably marry young, +and every head of a family, on a ranch, ought to know how to cure corn +beef. Give me a week of frosty nights, and the lesson is yours. Watch +me closely." + +The climax of the day was felling the beef. Near the middle of the +afternoon, the two rode out, cut off a small contingent of cattle, +including the animal wanted, and quietly drifted them down to the +desired location. Dell's curiosity had given way to alertness, and when +the old foreman shook out a rope, the boy instinctively knew that a +moment of action was at hand. Without in the least alarming the other +cattle, the cast was made, the loop opened in mid-air, settled around +the horns, cut fast by a jerk of the rope, and the contest between man +and animal began. It was over in a moment. The shade of a willow was the +chosen spot, and as the cattle were freed, the steer turned, the +horseman taking one side of the tree and the beef the other, wrapping +several turns of the rope in circling on contrary courses. The instant +the big fellow quieted, on its coming to a level, a pistol flashed, and +the beef fell in his tracks. That was the programme--to make the kill in +the shade of the willow. And it was so easily done. + +"That's about all we can do on horseback," said the gray-haired Texan, +dismounting. "You may bring the knives." + +Every step in the lesson was of interest to Dell. Before dark the beef +was cut into suitable pieces and spread on the platform to drain and +cool. During the frosty night following, all trace of animal heat passed +away, and before sunrise the meat was salted into barrels. Thereafter, +or until it was drained of every animal impurity, the beef was spread on +the platform nightly, the brine boiled and skimmed, until a perfect +pickle was secured. It was a matter of a week's concern, adding to the +commissary two barrels of prime corned beef, an item of no small value +in the line of sustenance. + +The roping of the beef had not been overlooked. "I can't see what made +the loop open for you yesterday," said Dell the next morning; "it won't +open for me." + +Priest took the rope from the boy. "What the tail means to a kite, or +the feather to an arrow," said he, running out an oval noose, "the same +principle applies to open the loop of a rope. The oval must have a heavy +side, which you get by letting the Hondo run almost halfway round the +loop, or double on one side. Then when you make your cast, the light +side will follow the heavy, and your loop will open. In other words, +what the feather is to the arrow, the light side is to the heavy, and if +you throw with force, the loop must open." + +It seemed so easy. Like a healthy boy, Dell had an ambition to be a +fearless rider and crack roper. During the week which followed, in the +saddle or at leisure, the boy never tired of practicing with a rope, +while the patient man called attention to several wrist movements which +lent assistance in forming a perfect loop. The slightest success was +repeated to perfection; unceasing devotion to a task masters it, and +before the visit ended, the perfect oval poised in the air and the rope +seemingly obeyed the hand of Dell Wells. + +"It's all right to master these little details of the cattle business," +said Priest to Dell, "but don't play them as lead cards. Keep them up +your sleeve, as a private accomplishment, for your own personal use. +These fancy riders and ropers are usually Sunday men. When I make up an +outfit for the trail, I never insist on any special attainments. Just so +he's good natured, and no danger of a rainy night dampening the twinkle +in his eye, that's the boy for me. Then if he can think a little, act +quick, clear, and to the point, I wouldn't care if he couldn't rope a +cow in a month." + +In considering the lines of resistance, the possibility of annoyance +from wolves was not overlooked. There was an abundance of suet in the +beef, several vials of strychnine had been provided, and a full gallon +of poisoned tallow was prepared in event of its needs. While Joel was +away after the last load of corn, several dozen wooden holders were +prepared, two-inch auger holes being sunk to the depth of five or six +inches, the length of a wolf's tongue, and the troughs charred and +smoked of every trace of human scent. + +That the boys might fully understand the many details, the final +instructions were delayed until Joel's return. "Always bear in mind that +a wolf is a wary beast," admonished Priest, "and match your cunning +against his. Make no mistake, take no chances, for you're dealing with a +crafty enemy. About the troughs on the ground, surrounding the bait, +every trace of human scent must be avoided. For that reason, you must +handle the holder with a spear or hay fork, and if you have occasion to +dismount, to refill a trough, carry a board to alight on, remembering to +lower and take it up by rope, untouched even by a gloved hand. The scent +of a horse arouses no suspicion; in fact, it is an advantage, as it +allays distrust." + +In loading a bait, an object lesson was given, using unpoisoned suet. +"After throwing off all suspicion," continued Priest, illustrating the +process, "the next thing is to avoid an overdose. An overdose acts as an +emetic, and makes a wise wolf. For that reason, you must pack the tallow +in the auger hole, filling from a half to two thirds full. Force Mr. +Wolf to lick it out, administer the poison slowly, and you are sure of +his scalp. You will notice I have bored the hole in solid wood, to +prevent gnawing, and you must pack the suet firmly, to prevent spilling, +as a crafty wolf will roll a trough over and over to dislodge the bait. +Keep your holders out in the open, exposed to the elements, scald the +loading tools before using, and you have the upper hand of any wolves +that may molest your cattle." + +The trail foreman spent a pleasant two weeks at the Wells ranch. After +the corn was in store, the trio rode the range and reviewed every +possible line of defense. Since the winter could not be foreseen, the +only safe course was to anticipate the worst, and barring the burning of +the range from unseen sources, the new ranch stood prepared to withstand +a winter siege. Everything to forefend against a day of stress or trial +had been done, even to instilling courage into youthful hearts. + +"There's only one thing further that comes to mind," said the practical +man, as they rode homeward, "and that is to face an unexpected storm. If +a change of weather threatens, point your herd to meet it, and then if +you are caught out, you will have the storm in your back to drift the +cattle home. Shepherds practice that rule, and the same applies to +cattle under herd." + +All horses were to be left at the new ranch for the winter. Dell +volunteered to accompany their guest to the railroad and bring back the +extra mount, thus leaving five of Lovell's horses in possession of the +boys. On the day of departure, at breakfast, after a final summary of +the lines of resistance, the trio dallied about the table, the trail +foreman seemingly reluctant to leave. + +"It's a common remark among us drovers," said Priest, toying with his +coffee cup, "that a cowman is supposed to do his sleeping in the winter. +But the next few months you boys must reverse that rule. Not that you +need to deny yourselves abundant rest, but your vigilance should never +sleep. Let your concern for the herd be the first and last thought of +the day, and then I'll get my beauty sleep this winter. The unforeseen +may happen; but I want you to remember that when storms howl the +loudest, your Mr. Quince and I will be right around the bend of the +creek, with our ear to the ground, the reserves, listening to the good +fight you boys are making. Of course you could call the reserves, but +you want the glory of the good fighting and the lust of victory, all to +yourselves. That's the way I've got you sized up--die rather than show +the white feather. Come on, Dell; we're sleeping in the summer." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A WINTRY CRUCIBLE + + +The dreaded winter was at hand. Scarcely a day passed but the harbingers +of air and sky sounded the warning approach of the forthcoming siege. +Great flights of song and game birds, in their migration southward, lent +an accent as they twittered by or honked in mid-air, while scurrying +clouds and squally weather bore witness of approaching winter. + +The tent was struck and stored away. The extra saddle stock was freed +for the winter, and located around Hackberry Grove. The three best +horses were given a ration of corn, and on Dell's return from the +railroad, the cattle were put under herd. The most liberal freedom must +be allowed; with the numbers on hand, the term _close_ herding would +imply grazing the cattle on a section of land, while _loose_ herding +would mean four or five times that acreage. New routes must be taken +daily; the weather would govern the compactness and course of the herd, +while a radius of five miles from the corral was a liberal range. + +The brothers were somewhat familiar with winter on the plains. Cold was +to be expected, but if accompanied by sunshine and a dry atmosphere, +there was nothing to fear. A warm, fine day was usually the forerunner +of a storm, the approach of which gave little warning, requiring a +sleepless vigilance to avoid being taken unaware or at a disadvantage. + +The day's work began at sunrise. Cattle are loath to leave a dry bed, +and on throwing open the corral gates, it was often necessary to enter +and arouse the herd. Thereafter, under normal conditions, it was a +matter of pointing, keeping up the drag cattle, allowing the herd to +spread and graze, and contracting and relaxing as occasion required. In +handling, it was a decided advantage that the little nucleus had known +herd restraint, in trailing overland from Texas, and were obedient, at a +distance of fifty yards, to the slightest whistle or pressure of a +herdsman. Under favorable conditions, the cattle could be depended on to +graze until noon, when they were allowed an hour's rest, and the circle +homeward was timed so as to reach the corral and water by sunset. The +duties of each day were a repetition of the previous one, the moods of +the old and younger cattle, sedate and frolicsome, affording the only +variety to the monotony of the task. + +"Holding these cattle is going to be no trouble at all," said Dell, as +they rode homeward, at the end of the first day's herding. "My horse +never wet a hair to-day." + +"Don't shout before you're out of the woods," replied Joel. "The first +of April will be soon enough to count our chickens. To-morrow is only +the beginning of December." + +"Last year we shucked corn up until Christmas." + +"Husking corn is a burnt bridge with me. We're herding cattle this +winter. Sit straight in your saddle." + +A week of fine weather followed. The boys were kept busy, early and +late, with the details of house and stable. A new route each day was +taken with the herd, and after penning in the evening, it was a daily +occurrence, before bedtime, to walk back to the corral and see that all +was secure. Warning of approach and departure, on the part of the boys, +either by whistling or singing, was always given the cattle, and the +customary grunting of the herd answered for its own contentment. A +parting look was given the horses, their forage replenished, and every +comfort looked after to the satisfaction of their masters. By nature, +horses are distant and slow of any expression of friendship; but an +occasional lump of sugar, a biscuit at noon-time, with the present +ration of grain, readily brought the winter mounts to a reliance, where +they nickered at the approaching footsteps of their riders. + +The trust of the boys, in their winter mounts, entitles the latter to a +prominent place in the line of defense. Rowdy, Joel's favorite, was a +veteran cow horse, dark brown in color, and, under the saddle, restless, +with a knowledge of his work that bordered on the human. Dell favored +Dog-toe, a chestnut in color, whose best point was a perfect rein, and +from experience in roping could halt from any gait on the space of a +blanket. The relay horse was named Coyote, a cinnamon-colored mount, +Spanish marked in a black stripe down his back, whose limbs were +triple-ringed above the knees, or where the body color merged with the +black of his legs. Their names had followed them from the trail, one of +which was due to color marks, one to disposition, while that of Dell's +chestnut was easily traceable, from black marks in his hoofs quartering +into toes. + +The first storm struck near the middle of December. It was preceded by +an ideal day; like the promise of spring, a balmy south wind swept the +range, while at night a halo encircled the moon. + +"It will storm within three days," said Dell, as the boys strolled up to +the corral for a last look at the sleeping cattle. "There are three +stars inside the circle around the moon. That's one of Granny +Metcalf's signs." + +"Well, we'll not depend on signs," replied Joel. "These old granny omens +may be all right to hatch chickens by, but not to hold cattle. All +advice on that point seems to rely on corn-fed saddle horses and +little sleep." + +The brothers spent the customary hour at the corral. From the bluff bank +which encircled the inclosure, the lads looked down on the contented +herd, their possession and their promise; and the tie of man and his +beast was accented anew in their youthful hearts. + +"Mr. Paul was telling me on one of our rides," said Joel, gazing down on +the sleeping herd, "that we know nothing of the human race in an age so +remote that it owned no cattle. He says that when the pyramids of Egypt +were being built, ours was then an ancient occupation. I love to hear +Mr. Paul talk about cattle. Hark!" + +The long howl of a wolf to the south was answered by a band to the +westward, and echoed back from the north in a single voice, each +apparently many miles distant. Animal instinct is usually unerring, and +the boys readily recalled the statement of the old trail foreman, that +the howling of wolves was an omen of a forthcoming storm. + +"Let it come," said Joel, arising and starting homeward. "We'll meet it. +Our course to-morrow will be northwest." + +It came with little warning. Near the middle of the following afternoon, +a noticeable lull in the wind occurred, followed by a leaden horizon on +the west and north. The next breeze carried the icy breath of the +northwest, and the cattle turned as a single animal. The alert horsemen +acted on the instant, and began throwing the cattle into a compact herd. +At the time they were fully three miles from the corral, and when less +than halfway home, the storm broke in splendid fury. A swirl of snow +accompanied the gale, blinding the boys for an instant, but each lad +held a point of the herd and the raging elements could be depended on to +bring up the rear. + +It was no easy victory. The quarter from which the storm came had been +anticipated to a fraction. The cattle drifted before its wrath, dropped +into the valley just above the corral, where the boys doubled on the +outside point, and by the aid of a wing-gate turned the wandering herd +into the enclosure. The rear, lashed by the storm, instinctively +followed the leaders, and the gates were closed and roped securely. + +It was a close call. The lesson came vividly near to the boys. +"Hereafter," said Joel, "all signs of a storm must be acted upon. We +corraled these cattle by a scratch. Now I know what a winter drift +means. A dozen men couldn't turn this herd from the course of to-day's +storm. We must hold nearer the corral." + +The boys swung into their saddles, and, trusting to their horses, safely +reached the stable. A howling night followed; the wind banked the snow +against every obstacle, or filled the depressions, even sifting through +every crack and crevice in the dug-out. The boys and their mounts were +snug within sod walls, the cattle were sheltered in a cove of the creek, +and the storm wailed its dirges unheeded. + +Dawn broke cold and clear. Sun-dogs flanked the day's harbinger and +sunrise found the boys at the corral gate. The cattle lazily responded +to their freedom, the course led to the nearest divide, wind-swept of +snow, and which after an hour's sun afforded ample grazing for the day. +The first storm of the winter had been met, and its one clear lesson +lent a dread to any possible successors. The herd in the grip of a +storm, cut off from the corral, had a new meaning to the embryo cowmen. +The best advice is mere theory until applied, and experience in the +practical things of life is not transferable. + +The first storm was followed by ideal winter weather until Christmas +day. The brothers had planned an extra supper on that occasion, +expecting to excuse Dell during the early afternoon for the culinary +task, and only requiring his services on corraling the herd at evening. +The plan was feasible, the cattle were herd-broke, knew their bed and +water, and on the homeward circle all that was required was to direct +and time the grazing herd. The occasion had been looked forward to, +partly because it was their very own, their first Christmas spread, and +partly on account of some delicacies that their sponsor had forced on +Dell on parting at the railroad, in anticipation of the day. The bounds +of the supper approached a banquet, and the question of appetites to +grace the occasion was settled. + +The supper was delayed. Not from any fault in the planning, but the +weather had not been consulted. The herd had been grazed out on a +northwest course for the day, and an hour after noon, almost the time at +which Dell was to have been excused, a haze obscured the sun and dropped +like a curtain around the horizon. Scurrying clouds appeared, and before +the herd could be thrown together and started, a hazy, leaden sky shot +up, almost due west, heralding the quarter of the coming storm. The herd +sensed the danger and responded to the efforts of the horsemen; but +before a mile had been covered, it was enveloped in swirling snow and +veering its march with the course of the storm. The eddying snow blinded +the boys as to their direction; they supposed they were pointing the +cattle into the valley, unaware that the herd had changed its course on +the onslaught of the elements. Confidence gave way to uncertainty, and +when sufficient time had elapsed to more than have reached the corral, +conjecture as to their location became rife. From the moment the storm +struck, both boys had bent every energy to point the herd into the +valley, but when neither slope nor creek was encountered, the fact +asserted itself that they were adrift and at the mercy of the elements. + +"We've missed the corral," shouted Dell. "We're lost!" + +"Not yet," answered Joel, amid the din of the howling storm. "The +creek's to our right. Loosen your rope and we'll beat these leaders into +the valley." + +The plying of ropes, the shouting of boys, and the pressure of horses +merely turned the foremost cattle, when a new contingent forged to the +front, impelled onward by the fury of the storm. Again and again the +boys plied the fear of ropes and the force of horses, but each effort +was futile, as new leaders stepped into the track of the displaced ones, +and the course of the herd was sullenly maintained. + +The battle was on, and there were no reserves within call. In a crisis +like the present, moments drag like hours, and the firing line needed +heartening. A knowledge of the country was of no avail, a rod or two was +the limit of vision, and the brothers dared not trust each other out of +sight. Time moved forward unmeasured, yet amid all Joel Wells remained +in possession of a stanch heart and an unbewildered mind. "The creek's +to our right," was his battle cry. "Come on; let's turn these lead +cattle once more." + +Whether it was the forty-ninth or hundredth effort is not on record, but +at some point in the good fight, the boys became aware that the cattle +were descending a slope--the welcome, southern slope of the Beaver +valley! Overhead the storm howled mercilessly, but the shelter of the +hillside admitted of veering the herd on its course, until the valley +was reached. No knowledge of their location was possible, and all the +brothers could do was to cross to the opposite point, and direct the +herd against the leeward bank of the creek. Every landmark was lost, +with the herd drifting at will. + +The first recognition was due to animal instinct. Joel's horse neighed, +was answered by Dell's, and with slack rein, the two turned a few rods +aside and halted at their stable door. Even then the boys could scarcely +identify their home quarters, so enveloped was the dug-out in +swirling snow. + +"Get some matches," said Joel, refusing to dismount. "There's no halting +these cattle short of the second cut-bank, below on the left. Come on; +we must try and hold the herd." + +The sullen cattle passed on. The halt was only for a moment, when the +boys resumed their positions on the point and front. Allowing the cattle +to move, assured a compact herd, as on every attempt to halt or turn it, +the rear forged to the front and furnished new leaders, and in unity lay +a hope of holding the drifting cattle. + +The lay of the Beaver valley below headquarters was well known. The +banks of the creek shifted from a valley on one side, to low, +perpendicular bluffs on the other. It was in one of these meanderings of +the stream that Joel saw a possible haven, the sheltering cut-bank that +he hoped to reach, where refuge might be secured against the raging +elements. It lay several miles below the homestead, and if the drifting +herd reached the bend before darkness, there was a fighting chance to +halt the cattle in a protected nook. The cove in mind was larger than +the one in which the corral was built, and if a successful entrance +could only be effected--but that was the point. + +"This storm is quartering across the valley," said Joel, during a lull, +"and if we make the entrance, we'll have to turn the herd on a direct +angle from the course of the wind. If the storm veers to the north, it +will sweep us out of the valley, with nothing to shelter the cattle this +side of the Prairie Dog. It's make that entrance, or abandon the herd, +and run the chance of overtaking it." + +"We'll rush them," said Dell. "Remember how those men, the day we +branded, rushed the cattle into the branding chute." + +"They could do things that we wouldn't dare--those were trail men." + +"The cattle are just as much afraid of a boy as of a man; they don't +know any difference. You point them and I'll rush them. Remember that +story Mr. Quince told about a Mexican boy throwing himself across a +gateway, and letting a thousand range horses jump over him? You could do +that, too, if you had the nerve. Watch me rush them." + +It seemed an age before the cut-bank was reached. The meanderings of the +creek were not even recognizable, and only an occasional willow could be +identified, indicating the location of the present drift. Occasionally +the storm thickened or lulled, rendering it impossible to measure the +passing time, and the dread of nightfall was intensified. Under such +stress, the human mind becomes intensely alert, and every word of +warning, every line of advice, urged on the boys by their sponsors, came +back in their hour of trial with an applied meaning. This was no dress +parade, with the bands playing and horses dancing to the champing of +their own bits; no huzzas of admiring throngs greeted this silent, +marching column; no love-lit eyes watched their hero or soft hand waved +lace or cambric from the border of this parade ground. + +A lone hackberry tree was fortunately remembered as growing near the +entrance to the bend which formed the pocket. When receiving the cattle +from the trail, it was the landmark for dropping the cripples. The tree +grew near the right bank of the creek, the wagon trail passed under it, +making it a favorite halting place when freighting in supplies. Dell +remembered its shade, and taking the lead, groped forward in search of +the silent sentinel which stood guard at the gateway of the cove. It was +their one hope, and by zigzagging from the creek to any semblance of a +road, the entrance to the nook might be identified. + +The march of the herd was slow and sullen. The smaller cattle sheltered +in the lee of the larger, moving compactly, as if the density of the +herd radiated a heat of its own. The saddle horses, southern bred and +unacclimated, humped their backs and curled their heads to the knee, +indicating, with the closing day, a falling temperature. Suddenly, and +as clear as the crack of a rifle, the voice of Dell Wells was heard in +the lead:-- + +"Come on, Joel; here's our hackberry! Here's where the fight is won or +lost! Here's where you point them while I rush them! Come quick!" + +The brothers shifted positions. It was the real fight of the day. +Responding to spur and quirt, the horses sprang like hungry wolves at +the cattle, and the gloomy column turned quartering into the eye of the +storm. But as on every other attempt to turn or mill the drifting herd, +new leaders forged to the front and threatened to carry the drift past +the entrance to the pocket. The critical moment had arrived. +Dismounting, with a coiled rope in hand, Dell rushed on the volunteer +leaders, batting them over the heads, until they whirled into the +angling column, awakened from their stupor and panic-stricken from the +assault of a boy, who attacked with the ferocity of a fiend, hissing +like an adder or crying in the eerie shrill of a hyena in the same +breath. It worked like a charm! Its secret lay in the mastery of the +human over all things created. Elated by his success, Dell stripped his +coat, and with a harmless weapon in each hand, assaulted every +contingent of new leaders, striking right and left, throwing his weight +against their bodies, and by the magic of his mimic furies forcing them +into obedience. + +Meanwhile Joel had succeeded in holding the original leaders in line, +and within a hundred yards from the turn, the shelter of the bend was +reached. The domestic bovine lows for the comfort of his stable, and no +sooner had the lead cattle entered the sheltering nook, than their +voices arose in joyous lowing, which ran back through the column for the +first time since the storm struck. Turning to the support of Dell, the +older boy lent his assistance, forcing the angle, until the drag end of +the column had passed into the sheltering haven. The fight was won, and +to Dell's courage, in the decisive moment, all credit was due. The human +is so wondrously constructed and so infinite in variety, that where one +of these brothers was timid the other laughed at the storm, and where +physical courage was required to assault a sullen herd, the daring of +one amazed the other. Cattle are the emblem of innocence and strength, +and yet a boy--in spite of all that has been written to the +contrary--could dismount in the face of the wildest stampede, and by +merely waving a handkerchief split in twain the frenzied onrush of three +thousand beeves. + +Dell recovered his horse, and the brothers rode back and forth across +the mouth of the pocket. The cattle were milling in an endless +merry-go-round, contented under the sheltering bluffs, lowing for mates +and cronies, while above howled the elements with unrelenting fury. + +"We'll have to guard this entrance until the cattle bed down for the +night," remarked Joel, on surveying the situation. "I wonder if we +could start a fire." + +"I'll drop back to the hackberry and see if I can rustle some wood," +said Dell, wheeling his horse and following the back trail of the +cattle. He returned with an armful of dry twigs, and a fire was soon +crackling under the cliff. A lodgment of old driftwood was found below +the bend, and as darkness fell in earnest, a cosy fire threw its shadows +over the nook. + +A patrol was established and the night's vigil begun. The sentinel beat +was paced in watches between the boys, the width of the gateway being +about two hundred yards. There was no abatement of the storm, and it was +hours before all the cattle bedded down. The welfare of the horses was +the main concern, and the possibility of reaching home before morning +was freely discussed. The instinct of the horses could be relied on to +find the way to their stable, but return would be impossible before +daybreak. The brothers were so elated over holding the cattle that any +personal hardship was endurable, and after a seeming age, a lull in the +elements was noticeable and a star shone forth. Joel mounted his horse +and rode out of the cove, into the open valley, and on returning +announced that the storm had broken and that an attempt to reach +home was safe. + +Quietly as Arabs, the boys stole away, leaving the cattle to sleep out +the night. Once the hackberry was reached, the horses were given free +rein, when restraint became necessary to avoid galloping home. The snow +crunched underfoot, the mounts snorted their protest at hindrance, +vagrant breezes and biting cold cut the riders to the marrow, but on +approaching the homestead the reins were shaken out and the horses +dashed up to the stable door. + +"There's the morning star," observed Joel, as he dismounted. + +"If we're going to be cowmen," remarked Dell, glancing at the star as he +swung out of the saddle, "hereafter we'll eat our Christmas supper +in October." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GOOD FIGHTING + + +Dawn found the boys in the saddle. A two hours' respite had freshened +horses and riders. The morning was crimpy cold, but the horses warmed to +the work, and covered the two miles to the bend before the sun even +streaked the east. Joel rode a wide circle around the entrance to the +cove, in search of cattle tracks in the snow, and on finding that none +had offered to leave their shelter, joined his brother at the rekindled +fire under the cliff. The cattle were resting contentedly, the fluffy +snow underneath having melted from the warmth of their bodies, while the +diversity of colors in the herd were blended into one in harmony with +the surrounding scene. The cattle had bedded down rather compactly, and +their breathing during the night had frosted one another like window +glass in a humid atmosphere. It was a freak of the frost, sheening the +furry coats with a silver nap, but otherwise inflicting no harm. + +The cattle were allowed to rise of their own accord. In the interim of +waiting for the sun to flood the cove, the boys were able to get an +outline on the drift of the day previous. Both agreed that the herd was +fully five miles from the corral when the storm struck, and as it +dropped into the valley near the improvements (added to their present +location), it had drifted fully eight miles in something like +five hours. + +"Lucky thing for us that it was a local storm," said Joel, as he hovered +over the fire. "Had it struck out of the north we would be on the +Prairie Dog this morning with nothing but snowballs for breakfast. +Relying on signs did us a heap of good. It was a perfect day, and within +thirty minutes we were drifting blindly. It's all easy to figure out in +advance, but storms don't come by programme. The only way to hold cattle +on these plains in the winter is to put your trust in corn-fed saddle +horses, and do your sleeping in the summer." + +"I wonder when the next storm will strike," meditated Dell. + +"It will come when least expected, or threaten for days and days and +never come at all," replied Joel. "There's no use sitting up at night to +figure it out. Rouse out the cattle, and I'll point them up the divide." + +The sunshine had crept into the bend, arousing the herd, but the cattle +preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast, and stood around in bunches +until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent them forth. In +spite of the cold, the sun lent its aid, baring the divides and +wind-swept places of snow; and before noon, the cattle fell to feeding +so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other, and a dinner for boy +and horse was enjoyed at headquarters. In the valley the snow lay in +drifts, but by holding the cattle on divides and southern slopes, they +were grazed to contentment and entered their own corral at the customary +hour for penning. Old axes had been left at hand, and the first cutting +of ice, to open the water for cattle, occupied the boys for fully an +hour, after which they rode home to a well-earned rest. + +Three days of zero weather followed. Sun-dogs, brilliant as rainbows and +stately as sentinels, flanked the rising sun each morning, after which +the cold gradually abated, and a week after, a general thaw and warm +winds swept the drifts out of the valley. It was a welcome relief; the +cattle recovered rapidly, the horses proved their mettle, while the boys +came out more than victors. They were inuring rapidly to their new +occupation; every experience was an asset in meeting the next one, +while their general fibre was absorbing strength from the wintry trial +on the immutable plain. + +Only once during the late storm were wolves sighted. Near the evening of +the second day, a band of three made its appearance, keeping in the +distance, and following up the herd until it was corraled at the regular +hour. While opening the ice, the boys had turned their horses loose +among the cattle, and on leading them out of the corral, the trio of +prowlers had crept up within a hundred yards. With a yell, the boys +mounted and made a single dash at them, when the wolves turned, and in +their hurried departure fairly threw up a cloud of snow. + +"That's what Mr. Quince means by that expression of his, 'running like a +scared wolf,'" said Joel, as he reined in old Rowdy. + +"When will we put out the poison?" breathlessly inquired Dell, throwing +his mount back on his haunches in halting. + +"Just as soon as they begin to hang around. Remind me, and we'll look +for tracks around the corral in the morning. My, but they were beauties! +How I would like to have one of their hides for a foot-rug!" + +"The first heavy snow that comes will bring them out of the sand hills," +said Dell, as they rode home. "Mr. Paul said that hunger would make +them attack cattle. Oh, if we could only poison all three!" + +Dell rambled on until they reached the stable. He treated his mind to +visions of wealth, and robes, and furry overcoats. The wolves had +located the corral, the winter had barely begun, but the boys were aware +of the presence of an enemy. + +A complete circle of the corral was made the following morning. No +tracks were visible, nor were any wolves sighted before thawing weather +temporarily released the range from the present wintry grip. A fortnight +of ideal winter followed, clear, crisp days and frosty nights, ushering +in a general blizzard, which swept the plains from the British +possessions to the Rio Grande, and left death and desolation in its +pathway. Fortunately its harbingers threw its menace far in advance, +affording the brothers ample time to reach the corral, which they did at +a late evening hour. The day had been balmy and warm, the cattle came +in, gorged from a wide circle over buffalo grass, the younger ones, as +if instinctive of the coming storm and in gratitude of the shelter, even +kicking up their heels on entering the gates. The boys had ample time to +reach headquarters, much in doubt even then whether a storm would +strike or pass away in blustering threats. + +It began at darkness, with a heavy fall of soft snow. Fully a foot had +fallen by bedtime, and at midnight the blizzard struck, howling as if +all the demons of night and storm were holding high carnival. Towards +morning a creeping cold penetrated the shack, something unknown before, +and awoke the boys, shivering in their blankets. It was near their hour +for rising, and once a roaring fire warmed up the interior of the room, +Joel took a peep without, but closed the door with a shudder. + +"It's blowing a hurricane," said he, shivering over the stove. "This is +a regular blizzard--those others were only squalls. I doubt if we can +reach the stable before daybreak. Those poor cattle--" + +The horses were their first concern. As was their usual custom, well in +advance of daybreak an attempt was made to reach and feed the saddle +stock. It was Joel's task, and fortifying himself against the elements +without, he announced himself as ready for the dash. It was less than a +dozen rods between shack and stable, and setting a tallow dip in the +window for a beacon, he threw open the door and sprang out. He possessed +a courage which had heretofore laughed at storms, but within a few +seconds after leaving the room, he burst open the door and fell on +the bed. + +"I'm blinded," he murmured. "Put out the light and throw a blanket over +my head. The sifting snow cut my eyes like sand. I'll come around in a +little while." + +Daybreak revealed nothing worse from the driving snow than inflamed eyes +and roughened cheeks, when another attempt was made to succor the +horses. Both boys joined in the hazard, lashing themselves together with +a long rope, and reached the stable in safety. On returning, Dell was +thrown several times by the buffeting wind, but recovered his feet, and, +following the rope, the dug-out was safely reached. + +"That's what happened to me in the darkness," said Joel, once the +shelter of the house was reached. "I got whipped off my feet, lost my +bearings, and every time I looked for the light, my eyes filled +with snow." + +[Illustration: DELL WELLS] + +There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon. It was impossible to +succor the cattle, but the boys were anxious to reach the corral, which +was fully a mile from the shack. Every foot of the creek was known, and +by hugging the leeward bank some little protection would be afforded and +the stream would lead to the cattle. Near the middle of the afternoon, +there was a noticeable abatement in the swirling snow, when the +horses were blanketed to the limit and an effort made to reach the +corral. By riding bareback it was believed any drifts could be forced, +at least allowing a freedom to the mounts returning, in case the boys +lost their course. + +The blizzard blew directly from the north, and crossing the creek on a +direct angle, Joel led the way, forcing drifts or dismounting and +trampling them out until a pathway was made. Several times they were +able to make a short dash between known points, and by hugging the +sheltering bank of the creek, safely reached the corral. The cattle were +slowly milling about, not from any excitement, the exercise being merely +voluntary and affording warmth. The boys fell to opening up the water, +the cattle crowding around each opening and drinking to their +contentment. An immense comb of snow hung in a semicircle around the +bend, in places thirty feet high and perpendicular, while in others it +concaved away into recesses and vaults as fantastic as frosting on a +window. It was formed from the early, softer snow, frozen into place, +while the present shifting frost poured over the comb into the sheltered +cove, misty as bride's veiling, and softening the grotesque background +to a tint equaled only in the fluffy whiteness of swan's-down. + +The corral met every requirement. Its protecting banks sheltered the +herd from the raging blizzard; the season had inured the cattle, given +them shaggy coats to withstand the cold, and only food was lacking in +the present trial. After rendering every assistance possible, the boys +remained at the corral, hoping the sun would burst forth at evening, +only to meet disappointment, when their horses were given free rein and +carried them home in a short, sure dash. + +A skirmish for grazing ensued. During the next few days there was little +or no sunshine to strip the divides of snow, but the cattle were taken +out and given every possible chance. The first noticeable abatement of +the storm was at evening of the third day, followed by a diminishing +fourth, when for the first time the herd was grazed to surfeiting. The +weather gradually faired off, the cattle were recovering their old form, +when a freak of winter occurred. A week from the night the blizzard +swept down from the north, soft winds crept up the valley, promising +thawing weather as a relief to the recent wintry siege. But dawn came +with a heavy snow, covering the range, ending in rain, followed by a +freezing night, when the snow crusted to carry the weight of a man, and +hill and valley lay in the grip of sleet and ice. + +It was the unforeseen in the lines of intrenchment. The emergency +admitted of no dallying. Cattle do not paw away obstacles as do horses +and other animals to reach the grass, and relief must come in the form +of human assistance. Even the horses were helpless, as the snow was too +deep under the sleet, and any attempt to trample out pathways would have +left the winter mounts bleeding and crippled. The emergency demanded +men, but two boys came to the front in a resourceful manner. In their +old home in Ohio, threshing flails were sometimes used, and within an +hour after daybreak Joel Wells had fashioned two and was breaking a +trail through the sleet to the corral. + +The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north. To reach it with the +cattle, a trail, a rod or more in width, would have to be broken out. +Leaving their horses at the corral, the brothers fell at the task as if +it had been a threshing floor, and their flails rang out from contact +with the icy sleet. By the time they had reached the divide it was high +noon, and the boys were wearied by the morning task. The crusted snow +lay fully six inches deep on an average, and if sustenance was rendered +the cattle, whose hungry lowing reached equally hungry boys, the icy +crust must be broken over the feeding grounds. + +It looked like an impossible task. "Help me break out a few acres," said +Joel, "and then you can go back and turn out the cattle. Point them up +the broken-out trail, and bring my horse and come on ahead of the herd. +If we can break out a hundred acres, even, the cattle can nose around +and get down to the grass. It's our one hope." + +The hungry cattle eagerly followed up the icy lane. By breaking out the +shallow snow, the ground was made passably available to the feeding +herd, which followed the boys as sheep follow a shepherd. Fortunately +the weather was clear and cold, and if temporary assistance could be +rendered the cattle, a few days' sunshine would bare the ground on +southern slopes and around broken places, affording ample grazing. The +flails rung until sunset, the sleet was shattered by acres, and the +cattle led home, if not sufficiently grazed, at least with +hunger stayed. + +An inch of soft snow fell the following night, and it adhered where +falling, thus protecting the sleet. On the boys reaching the corrals at +an unusually early hour, a new menace threatened. The cattle were +aroused, milling excitedly in a compact mass, while outside the +inclosure the ground was fairly littered with wolf tracks. The herd, +already weakened by the severity of the winter, had been held under a +nervous strain for unknown hours, or until its assailants had departed +with the dawn. The pendulum had swung to an evil extreme; the sleet +afforded splendid footing to the wolves and denied the cattle their +daily food. + +"Shall we put out poison to-night?" inquired Dell, on summing up the +situation. + +"There's no open water," replied the older boy, "and to make a dose of +poison effective, it requires a drink. The bait is to be placed near +running water--those were the orders. We've got five hundred cattle here +to succor first. Open the gates." + +The second day's work in the sleet proved more effective. The sun +scattered both snow and ice; southern slopes bared, trails were beaten +out to every foot of open ground, and by the middle of the afternoon +fully a thousand acres lay bare, inviting the herd to feast to its +heart's content. But a night on their feet had tired out the cattle, and +it was with difficulty that they were prevented from lying down in +preference to grazing. On such occasions, the boys threw aside their +flails, and, mounting their horses, aroused the exhausted animals, +shifting them to better grazing and holding them on their feet. + +"This is the first time I ever saw cattle too tired to eat," said Joel, +as the corral gates were being roped shut. "Something must be done. Rest +seems as needful as food. This is worse than any storm yet. Half of them +are lying down already. We must build a bonfire to-night. Wolves are +afraid of a fire." + +Fully half the cattle refused to drink, preferring rest or having eaten +snow to satisfy their thirst. The condition of the herd was alarming, +not from want of food, but from the hungry prowlers of the night. Before +leaving, the brothers built a little fire outside the gate, as best they +could from the fuel at hand, expecting to return later and replenish the +wood supply from headquarters. + +The boys were apt in adopting Texas methods. Once the horses were fed +and their own supper eaten, the lads fastened onto two dry logs, and +from pommels dragged them up to the tiny blaze at the corral opening. It +was early in the evening, the herd was at rest, and the light of the +bonfire soon lit up the corral and threw fancy shadows on the combing +snow which formed the upper rim. The night was crimping cold, and at a +late hour the boys replenished the fire and returned home. But as they +dismounted at the stable, the hunting cry of a wolf pack was wafted down +the valley on the frosty air, and answered by a band far to the south in +the sand hills. + +"They're coming again," said Joel, breathlessly listening for the +distant howling to repeat. "The fire ought to hold them at a distance +until nearly morning. Let's feed the horses and turn in for the night." + +Daybreak found the boys at the corral. No wolves were in sight, but on +every hand abundant evidence of their presence during the night was to +be seen. Nearly all the cattle were resting, while the remainder, +principally mother cows, were arrayed in battle form, fronting one of +the recesses under the combing rim of snow. On riding within the corral, +the dread of the excited cows proved to be a monster wolf, crouching on +a shelf of snow. He arose on his haunches and faced the horsemen, +revealing his fangs, while his breast was covered with tiny icicles, +caused by the driveling slaver during the night's run. His weight was +responsible for his present plight, he having ventured out on the +fragile comb of snow above, causing it to cave down; and in the +bewilderment of the moment he had skurried to the safety of the ledge on +which he then rested. + +It was a moment of excitement. A steady fire of questions and answers +passed between the younger and older brother. The wolf was in hand, the +horns of a hundred angry cows held the enemy prisoner, and yet the boys +were powerless to make the kill. The situation was tantalizing. + +"Can't we poison him?" inquired Dell, in the extremity of the moment. + +"Certainly. Hand it to him on a plate--with sugar on it." + +"If Mr. Paul had only left us his pistol," meditated Dell, as a +possibility. + +"Yes, you could about hit that bank with a six-shooter. It's the risk of +a man's life to wound that wolf. He's cornered. I wouldn't dismount +within twenty feet of him for this herd." + +"I could shoot him from Dog-toe. This is the horse from which Mr. Paul +killed the beef. All trail horses are gun-proof." + +"My, but you are full of happy ideas. We've got to let that wolf go--we +can't make the kill." + +"I have it!" shouted Dell, ignoring all rebuffs. "Dog-toe is a roping +horse. Throw wide the gates. Give me a clear field, and I'll lasso that +wolf and drag him to death, or wrap him to the centre gatepost and you +can kill him with a fence-stay. Dog-toe, I'm going to rope a wolf from +your back," added Dell, patting the horse's neck and turning back to the +gate. "Show me the mettle of the State that bred you." + +"You're crazy," said Joel, "but there's no harm in trying it. Whatever +happens, stick to your saddle. Cut the rope if it comes to a pinch. I'll +get a fence-stay." + +Ever since the killing of the beef, Dell had diligently practiced with a +rope. It responded to the cunning of his hand, and the danger of the +present moment surely admitted of no false calculations. Dell dismounted +with a splendid assurance, tightened the cinches, tied his rope good and +firm to the fork of the saddle tree, mounted, and announced himself as +ready. The cattle were drifted left and right, opening a lane across the +corral, and Dell rode forward to study the situation. Joel took up a +position at the gate, armed only with a heavy stay, and awaited the +working out of the experiment. + +The hazard savored more of inexperience than of courage. Dell rode +carelessly back and forth, edging in nearer the ledge each time, +whirling his loop in passing, at which the cowering animal arose in an +attitude of defense. Nodding to Joel that the moment had come, as the +horse advanced and the enemy came within reach, the singing noose shot +out, the wolf arose as if to spring, and the next instant Dog-toe +whirled under spur and quirt, leaving only a blur behind as he shot +across the corral. Only his rider had seen the noose fall true, the taut +rope bespoke its own burden, and there was no time to shout. For an +instant, Joel held his breath, only catching a swerve in the oncoming +horse, whose rider bore down on the centre post of the double gate, the +deviation of course being calculated to entangle the rope's victim. The +horse flashed through the gate, something snapped, the rope stood in +air, and a dull thud was heard in the bewilderment of the moment. The +blur passed in an instant, and a monster dog wolf lay at the gatepost, +relaxing in a spasm of death. + +Dell checked his horse and returned, lamenting the loss of a foot's +length from his favorite rope. It had cut on the saddle tree, and thus +saved horse and rider from an ugly fall. + +"He lays right where I figured to kill him--against that post," said +Dell, as he reined in and looked down on the dead wolf. "Do you want +his hide, or can I have it?" + +"Drag him aside," replied Joel, "while I rouse out the cattle. I'll have +to sit up with you to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOLDING THE FORT + + +The valley lay in the grasp of winter. On the hills and sunny slopes, +the range was slowly opening to the sun. The creek, under cover of ice +and snow, forced its way, only yielding to axes for the time being and +closing over when not in use. + +The cattle required no herding. The chief concern of the brothers was to +open more grazing ground, and to that end every energy was bent. The +range already opened lay to the north of the Beaver, and although double +the distance, an effort was made to break out a trail to the divide on +the south. The herd was turned up the lane for the day, and taking their +flails, the boys began an attack on the sleet. It was no easy task, as +it was fully two miles to the divide, a northern slope, and not affected +by the sun before high noon. + +The flails rang out merrily. From time to time the horses were brought +forward, their weight shattering the broken sleet and assisting in +breaking out a pathway. The trail was beaten ten feet in width on an +average, and by early noon the divide was reached. Several thousand +acres lay bare, and by breaking out all drifts and depressions running +north and south across the watershed, new grazing grounds could be +added daily. + +A discovery was made on the return trip. The horses had been brought +along to ride home on, but in testing the sleet on the divide, the sun +had softened the crust until it would break under the weight of either +of the boys. By walking well outside the trail, the sleet crushed to the +extent of five or six feet, and by leading their horses, the pathway was +easily doubled in width. Often the crust cracked to an unknown distance, +easing from the frost, which the boys accepted as the forerunner of +thawing weather. + +"We'll put out poison to-night," said Dell. "It will hardly freeze a +shoal, and I've found one below the corral." + +"I'm just as anxious as you to put out the bait," replied Joel, "but we +must take no chances of making our work sure. The moment the cattle quit +drinking, the water holes freeze over. This is regular old +Billy Winter." + +"I'll show you the ripple and leave it to you," argued the younger boy. +"Under this crust of sleet and snow, running water won't freeze." + +"Along about sunset we can tell more about the weather for to-night," +said Joel, with a finality which disposed of the matter for the present. + +On reaching the corral, the older boy was delighted with the splendid +trail broken out, but Dell rode in search of a known shallow in the +creek. An old wood road crossed on the pebbly shoal, and forcing his +horse to feel his way through the softened crust, a riplet was unearthed +as it purled from under an earthen bank. + +"Here's your running water," shouted Dell, dropping the reins and +allowing Dog-toe to drink. "Here you are--come and see for yourself." + +Joel was delighted with Dell's discovery. In fact, the water, after +emerging from under a concave bank, within a few feet passed under +another arch, its motion preventing freezing. + +"Don't dismount," said Joel, emphasizing caution, "but let the horses +break a narrow trail across the water. This is perfect. We'll build +another fire to-night, and lay a half dozen baits around this +open water." + +The pelt of the dead wolf was taken, when the boys cantered in home. +Time was barely allowed to bolt a meal, when the loading of the wooden +troughs was begun. Every caution urged was observed; the basins were +handled with a hay fork, sledded to the scene, and dropped from +horseback, untouched by a human hand. To make sure that the poison would +be found, a rope was noosed to the carcass and a scented trace was made +from every quarter, converging at the open water and tempting baits. + +"There," said Dell, on completing the spoor, "if that doesn't get a +wolf, then our work wasn't cunningly done." + +"Now, don't forget to throw that carcass back on the ledge, under the +comb," added Joel. "Wolves have a reputation of licking each other's +bones, and we must deny them everything eatable except poisoned suet." + +The herd would not return of its own accord, and must be brought in to +the corral. As the boys neared the divide and came in sight of the +cattle, they presented a state of alarm. The presence of wolves was at +once suspected, and dashing up at a free gallop, the lads arrived in +time to save the life of a young steer. The animal had grazed beyond the +limits of the herd, unconscious of the presence of a lurking band of +wolves, until attacked by the hungry pack. Nothing but the energetic use +of his horns saved his life, as he dared not run for fear of being +dragged down, and could only stand and fight. + +The first glimpse of the situation brought the boys to the steer's +rescue. Shaking out their horses, with a shout and clatter of hoofs, +they bore down on the struggle, when the wolves suddenly forsook their +victim and slunk away. The band numbered eight by easy count, as they +halted within two hundred yards and lay down, lolling their tongues as +if they expected to return and renew the attack. + +"Did you ever hear of anything like this?" exclaimed Dell, as the +brothers reined in their horses to a halt. "Attacking in broad +daylight!" + +"They're starving," replied Joel. "This sleet makes it impossible to get +food elsewhere. One of us must stay with the cattle hereafter." + +"Well, we saved a steer and got a wolf to-day," boastfully said Dell. +"That's not a bad beginning." + +"Yes, but it's the end I dread. If this weather lasts a month longer, +some of these cattle will feed the wolves." + +There was prophecy in Joel's remark. The rescued animal was turned into +the herd and the cattle started homeward. At a distance, the wolves +followed, peeping over the divide as the herd turned down the pathway +leading to the corral. Fuel had been sledded up, and after attending to +the details of water and fire, the boys hurried home. + +The weather was a constant topic. It became the first concern of the +morning and the last observation of the night. The slightest change was +noticeable and its portent dreaded. Following the blizzard, every +moderation of the temperature brought more snow or sleet. Unless a +general thaw came to the relief of the cattle, any change in the weather +was undesirable. + +A sleepless night followed. It was later than usual when the boys +replenished the fire and left the corral. Dell's imagination covered the +limits of all possibilities. He counted the victims of the poison for +the night, estimated the number of wolves tributary to the Beaver, +counted his bales of peltry, and awoke with a start. Day was breaking, +the horses were already fed, and he was impatient for saddles and away. + +"How many do you say?" insisted Dell, as they left the stable. + +"One," answered Joel. + +"Oh, we surely got seven out of those eight." + +"There were only six baits. You had better scale down your estimate. +Leave a few for luck." + +Nothing but the cold facts could shake Dell's count of the chickens. +Joel intentionally delayed the start, loitering between house and +corral, and when no longer able to restrain his impulsive brother, +together they reached the scene. Dell's heart failed him--not a dead +wolf lay in sight. Every bait had been disturbed. Some of the troughs +had been gnawed to splinters, every trace of the poisoned suet had been +licked out of the auger holes, while the snow was littered with +wolf tracks. + +"Our cunning must be at fault," remarked Joel, as he surveyed the scene +and empty basins. + +Dell looked beaten. "My idea is that we had too few baits for the number +of visitors. See the fur, where they fought over the tallow. That's it; +there wasn't enough suet to leave a good taste in each one's mouth. From +the looks of the ground, there might have been fifty wolves." + +The boy reasoned well. Experience is a great school. The brothers awoke +to the fact that in the best laid plans of mice and men the unforeseen +is ever present. Their sponsors could only lay down the general rule, +and the exceptions threw no foreshadows. No one could foresee that the +grip of winter would concentrate and bring down on the little herd the +hungry, roving wolf packs. + +"Take out the herd to-day," said Dell, "and let me break out more +running water. I'll take these basins in and refill them, make new ones, +and to-night we'll put out fifty baits." + +The cattle were pointed up the new trail to the southern divide. Joel +took the herd, and Dell searched the creek for other shallows tributary +to the corral. Three more were found within easy distance, when the +troughs were gathered with fork and sled, and taken home to be refilled. +It was Dell Wells's busy day. Cunning and caution were his helpers; +slighting nothing, ever crafty on the side of safety, he cut, bored, and +charred new basins, to double the original number. After loading, for +fear of any human taint, he dipped the troughs in water and laid them in +the shade to freeze. A second trip with the sled was required to +transport the basins up to the corral, the day's work being barely +finished in time for him to assist in penning the herd. + +"How many baits have you?" was Joel's hail. + +"Sixty odd." + +"You'll need them. Three separate wolf packs lay in sight all the +afternoon. Several times they crept up within one hundred yards of the +cattle. One band numbered upwards of twenty." + +"Let them come," defiantly said Dell. "The banquet is spread. +Everything's done, except to drag the carcass, and I didn't want to do +that until after the cattle were corraled." + +The last detail of the day was to build a little fire, which would die +out within an hour after darkness. It would allow the cattle time to bed +down and the packs to gather. As usual, it was not the intention of the +boys to return, and as they mounted their horses to leave, all the +welled-up savage in Dell seemed to burst forth. + +"Welcome, Mr. Wolf, welcome," said he, with mimic sarcasm and a gesture +which swept the plain. "I've worked like a dog all day and the feast is +ready. Mrs. Wolf, will you have a hackberry plate, or do you prefer the +scent of cottonwood? You'll find the tender, juicy kidney suet in the +ash platters. Each table seats sixteen, with fresh water right at hand. +Now, have pallets and enjoy yourselves. Make a night of it. Eat, drink, +and be merry, for to-morrow your pelts are mine." + +"Don't count your chickens too soon," urged Joel. + +"To-morrow you're mine!" repeated Dell, ignoring all advice. "I'll +carpet the dug-out with your hides, or sell them to a tin peddler." + +"You counted before they were hatched this morning," admonished his +brother. "You're only entitled to one guess." + +"Unless they got enough to sicken them last night," answered Dell with +emphasis, "nothing short of range count will satisfy me." + +A night of conjecture brought a morning with results. Breakfast was +forgotten, saddles were dispensed with, while the horses, as they +covered the mile at a gallop, seemed to catch the frenzy of expectation. +Dell led the way, ignoring all counsel, until Dog-toe, on rounding a +curve, shied at a dead wolf in the trail, almost unhorsing his rider. + +"There's one!" shouted Dell, as he regained his poise. "I'll point them +out and you count. There's another! There's two more!" + +It was a ghastly revel. Like sheaves in a harvest field, dead wolves lay +around every open water. Some barely turned from the creek and fell, +others struggled for a moment, while a few blindly wandered away for +short distances. The poison had worked to a nicety; when the victims +were collected, by actual count they numbered twenty-eight. It was a +victory to justify shouting, but the gruesome sight awed the brothers +into silence. Hunger had driven the enemy to their own death, and the +triumph of the moment at least touched one sensitive heart. + +"This is more than we bargained for," remarked Joel in a subdued voice, +after surveying the ravages of poison. + +"Our task is to hold these cattle," replied Dell. "We're soldiering this +winter, and our one duty is to hold the fort. What would Mr. Paul say if +we let the wolves kill our cattle?" + +After breakfast Joel again led the herd south for the day, leaving Dell +at the corral. An examination of the basins was made, revealing the fact +that every trace of the poisoned suet had been licked out of the +holders. Of a necessity, no truce with the wolf became the slogan of the +present campaign. No mushy sentiment was admissible--the fighting was +not over, and the powder must be kept dry. The troughs were accordingly +sledded into the corral, where any taint from the cattle would further +disarm suspicion, and left for future use. + +The taking of so many pelts looked like an impossible task for a boy. +But Dell recalled, among the many experiences with which Forrest, when a +cripple, regaled his nurses, was the skinning of winter-killed cattle +with a team. The same principle applied in pelting a wolf, where by very +little aid of a knife, about the head and legs, a horse could do the +work of a dozen men. The corral fence afforded the ready snubbing-post, +Dog-toe could pull his own weight on a rope from a saddle pommel, and +theory, when reduced to the practical, is a welcome auxiliary. The head +once bared, the carcass was snubbed to the centre gate post, when a +gentle pull from a saddle horse, aided by a few strokes of a knife, a +second pull, and the pelt was perfectly taken. It required steady +mounting and dismounting, a gentle, easy pull, a few inches or a foot, +and with the patience of a butcher's son, Dog-toe earned his corn and +his master a bale of peltry. + +Evening brought report of further annoyance of wolves. New packs had +evidently joined forces with the remnants of the day before, as there +was neither reduction in numbers nor lessening in approach or attitude. + +"Ours are the only cattle between the Republican River in Nebraska and +the Smoky River in this State," said Joel, in explanation. "Rabbits and +other rodents are at home under this sleet, and what is there to live +on but stock? You have to hold the cattle under the closest possible +herd to avoid attack." + +"That will made the fighting all the better," gloatingly declared Dell. +"Dog-toe and I are in the fur business. Let the wolves lick the bones of +their brethren to-night, and to-morrow I'll spread another banquet." + +The few days' moderation in the weather brought a heavy snowfall that +night. Fortunately the herd had enjoyed two days' grazing, but every +additional storm had a tendency to weaken the cattle, until it appeared +an open question whether they would fall a prey to the wolves or succumb +to the elements. A week of cruel winter followed the local storm, during +which three head of cattle, cripples which had not fully recuperated, in +the daily march to the divides fell in the struggle for sustenance and +fed the wintry scavengers. It was a repetition of the age-old struggle +for existence--the clash between the forces of good and evil, with the +wolf in the ascendant. + +The first night which would admit of open water, thirty-one wolves fell +in the grip of poison. It was give and take thereafter, not an eye for +an eye, but in a ratio of ten to one. The dug-out looked like a +trapper's cave, carpeted with peltry, while every trace of sentiment +for the enemy, in the wintry trial which followed, died out in the +hearts of the boys. + +Week after week passed, with the elements allied with the wolves against +the life of the herd. On the other hand, a sleepless vigilance and +sullen resolve on the part of the besieged, aided by fire and poison, +alone held the fighting line. To see their cattle fall to feed the +wolves, helpless to relieve, was a bitter cup to the struggling boys. + +A single incident broke the monotony of the daily grind. One morning +near the end of the fifth week, when the boys rode to the corral at an +early hour, in order to learn the result of poison, a light kill of +wolves lay in sight around the open water. While they were attempting to +make a rough count of the dead from horseback, a wolf, supposed to be +poisoned, sprang fully six feet into the air, snapping left and right +before falling to the ground. Nothing but the agility of Rowdy saved +himself or rider, who was nearly unhorsed, from being maimed or killed +from the vicious, instant assault. + +The brothers withdrew to a point of safety. Joel was blanched to the +color of the snow, his horse trembled in every muscle, but Dell shook +out his rope. + +"Hold on," urged Joel, gasping for breath. "Hold on. That's a mad wolf, +or else it's dying." + +"He's poisoned," replied Dell. "See how he lays his head back on his +flank. It's the griping of the poison. Half of them die in just that +position. I'm going to rope and drag him to death." + +But the crunching of the horse's feet in the snow aroused the victim, +and he again sprang wildly upward, snapping as before, and revealing +fangs that bespoke danger. Struggling to its feet, the wolf ran +aimlessly in a circle, gradually enlarging until it struck a strand of +wire in the corral fence, the rebound of which threw the animal flat, +when it again curled its head backward and lay quiet. + +"Rope it," said Joel firmly, shaking out his own lasso. "If it gets into +that corral it will kill a dozen cattle. That I've got a live horse +under me this minute is because that wolf missed Rowdy's neck by a +hand-breadth." + +The trampled condition of the snow around the corral favored approach. +Dell made a long but perfect throw, the wolf springing as the rope +settled, closing with one foot through the loop. The rope was cautiously +wrapped to the pommel, could be freed in an instant, and whirling +Dog-toe, his rider reined the horse out over the lane leading to the +herd's feeding ground to the south. The first quarter of a mile was an +indistinct blur, out of which a horse might be seen, then a boy, or a +wolf arose on wings and soared for an instant. Suddenly the horse +doubled back over the lane, and as his rider shot past Joel, a fire of +requests was vaguely heard, regarding "a noose that had settled foul," +of "a rope that was being gnawed" and a general inability to strangle +a wolf. + +Joel saw the situation in an instant. The rope had tightened around the +wolf's chest, leaving its breathing unaffected, while a few effectual +snaps of those terrible teeth would sever any lasso. Shaking out a loop +in his own rope, as Dell circled back over the other trail, Rowdy +carried his rider within easy casting distance, the lasso hissed through +the air, settled true, when two cow-horses threw their weight against +each other, and the wolf's neck was broken as easily as a rotten thread. + +"A little of this goes a long way with me," said Joel from the safety of +his saddle. + +"Oh, it's fine practice," protested Dell, as he dismounted and kicked +the dead wolf. "Did you notice my throw? If it was an inch, it was +thirty feet!" + +In its severity, the winter of 1885-86 stands alone in range cattle +history. It came rather early, but proved to be the pivotal trial in the +lives of Dell and Joel Wells. Six weeks, plus three days, after the +worst blizzard in the history of the range industry, the siege was +lifted and the Beaver valley groaned in her gladness. Sleet cracks ran +for miles, every pool in the creek threw off its icy gorge, and the +plain again smiled within her own limits. Had the brothers been thorough +plainsmen, they could have foretold the coming thaw, as three days +before its harbingers reached them every lurking wolf, not from fear of +poison, but instinctive of open country elsewhere, forsook the Beaver, +not to return the remainder of the winter. + +"That's another time you counted the chickens too soon," said Joel to +his brother, when the usual number of baits failed to bring down a wolf. + +"Very good," replied Dell. "The way accounts stand, we lost twelve +cattle against one hundred and eighteen pelts taken. I'll play that game +all winter." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A WINTER DRIFT + + +The month of March was the last intrenchment in the wintry siege. If it +could be weathered, victory would crown the first good fight of the +boys, rewarding their courage in the present struggle and fortifying +against future ones. The brothers had cast their lot with the plains, +the occupation had almost forced itself on them, and having tasted the +spice of battle, they buckled on their armor and rode forth. Without +struggle or contest, the worthy pleasures of life lose their nectar. + +The general thaw came as a welcome relief. The cattle had gradually +weakened, a round dozen had fallen in sacrifice to the elements, and +steps must be taken to recuperate the herd. + +"We must loose-herd hereafter," said Joel, rejoicing in the thawing +weather. "A few warm days and the corral will get miry. Unless the +wolves return, we'll not pen the cattle again." + +Dell was in high feather. "The winter's over," said he. "Listen to the +creek talking to itself. No, we'll not have to corral the herd any +longer. Wasn't we lucky not to have any more cattle winter-killed! Every +day during the last month I felt that another week of winter would take +half the herd. It was good fighting, and I feel like shouting." + +"It was the long distance between the corral and the divides that +weakened the cattle," said Joel. "Hereafter we'll give them all the +range they need and only put them under close-herd at night. There may +be squally weather yet, but little danger of a general storm. After this +thaw, farmers on the Solomon will begin their spring ploughing." + +A fortnight of fine weather followed. The herd was given almost absolute +freedom, scattering for miles during the day, and only thrown together +at nightfall. Even then, as the cattle grazed entirely by day, a mile +square of dry slope was considered compact enough for the night. The +extra horses, which had ranged for the winter around Hackberry Grove, +were seen only occasionally and their condition noted. The winter had +haired them like llamas, the sleet had worked no hardship, as a horse +paws to the grass, and any concern for the outside saddle stock +was needless. + +The promise of spring almost disarmed the boys. Dell was anxious to +know the value of the bales of peltry, and constantly urged his brother +for permission to ride to the railroad and inquire. + +"What's your hurry?" was Joel's rejoinder. "I haven't shouted yet. I'm +not sure that we're out of the woods. Let's win for sure first." + +"But we ought to write to Mr. Paul and Mr. Quince," urged the younger +boy, by way of a double excuse. "There may be a letter from them at +Grinnell now. Let's write to our friends in Texas and tell them that +we've won the fight. The spring's here." + +"You can go to the station later," replied Joel. "The fur will keep, and +we may have quite a spell of winter yet. Don't you remember the old +weather proverb, of March coming in like a lion and going out like a +lamb? This one came in like a lamb, and we had better keep an eye on it +for fear it goes out like a lion. You can go to the railroad in April." + +There was wisdom in Joel's random advice. As yet there was no response +in the earth to the sun's warmth. The grass was timid and refused to +come forth, and only a few foolish crows had reached the shrub and +willow along the Beaver, while the absence of other signs of spring +carried a warning that the wintry elements might yet arise and roar +like a young lion. + +The one advantage of the passing days was the general improvement in the +herd. The instinct of the cattle led them to the buffalo grass, which +grew on the slopes and divides, and with three weeks of fair weather and +full freedom the herd as a whole rounded into form, reflecting its +tenacity of life and the able handling of its owners. + +Within ten days of the close of the month, the weakened lines of +intrenchment were again assaulted. The herd was grazing westward, along +the first divide south of the Beaver, when a squall struck near the +middle of the afternoon. It came without warning, and found the cattle +scattered to the limits of loose herding, but under the eyes of two +alert horsemen. Their mounts responded to the task, circling the herd on +different sides, but before it could be thrown into mobile form and +pointed into the Beaver valley, a swirl of soft snow enveloped horses +and riders, cattle and landscape. The herd turned its back to the storm, +and took up the steady, sullen march of a winter drift. Cut off from the +corral by fully five miles, the emergency of the hour must be met, and +the brothers rode to dispute the progress of the drifting cattle. + +"Where can we turn them?" timidly inquired Dell. + +"Unless the range of sand dunes catch us," replied Joel, "nothing short +of the brakes of the Prairie Dog will check the cattle. We're out until +this storm spends its force." + +"Let's beat for the sand hills, then. They lay to our right, and the +wolves are gone." + +"The storm is from the northwest. If it holds from that quarter, we'll +miss the sand dunes by several miles. Then it becomes a question of +horseflesh." + +"If we miss the sand hills, I'll go back and get a pack horse and +overtake you to-morrow. It isn't cold, and Dog-toe can face the storm." + +"That's our one hope," admitted Joel. "We've brought these cattle +through a hard winter and now we mustn't lose them in a spring squall." + +The wind blew a gale. Ten minutes after the storm struck and the cattle +turned to drift with it, all knowledge of the quarter of the compass was +lost. It was a reasonable allowance that the storm would hold a true +course until its wrath was spent, and relying on that slender thread, +the boys attempted to veer the herd for the sand hills. By nature cattle +are none too gregarious, as only under fear will they flock compactly, +and the danger of splitting the herd into wandering contingents must be +avoided. On the march which lay before it, its compactness must be +maintained, and to turn half the herd into the sand dunes and let the +remainder wander adrift was out of the question. + +"We'll have to try out the temper of the herd," said Joel. "The cattle +are thin, have lost their tallow, and this wind seems to be cutting them +to the quick. There's no use in turning the lead unless the swing cattle +will follow. It's better to drift until the storm breaks than to split +the herd into little bunches." + +"Let's try for the sand hills, anyhow," urged Dell. "Turn the leaders +ever so slightly, and I'll try and keep the swing cattle in line." + +An effort to reach the shelter of the sand dunes was repeatedly made. +But on each attempt the wind, at freezing temperature, cut the cattle to +the bone, and as drifting was so much more merciful, the brothers chose +to abandon the idea of reaching a haven in the sand hills. + +"The cattle are too weak," admitted Joel, after repeated efforts. "Turn +the leaders and they hump their backs and halt. An hour of this wind +would drop them in their tracks. It's drift or die." + +"I'll drop back and see how the drag cattle are coming on," suggested +Dell, "and if they're in line I might as well start after a pack horse. +We're only wearing out our horses in trying to turn this herd." + +The efforts to veer the herd had enabled the drag end to easily keep in +a compact line, and on Dell's return to the lead, he reported the +drifting column less than a quarter mile in length. + +"The spirit of the herd is killed," said he; "the cattle can barely hold +their heads off the ground. Why, during that Christmas drift, they +fought and gored each other at every chance, but to-day they act like +lost sheep. They are half dead on their feet." + +The herd had been adrift several hours, and as sustenance for man and +horse was important, Dell was impatient to reach the Beaver before +nightfall. + +"If the storm has held true since it struck," said he, "I'll cut it +quartering from here to headquarters. That good old corn that Dog-toe +has been eating all winter has put the iron into his blood, until he +just bows his neck and snorts defiance against this wind and snow." + +"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one hundred +yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country looks alike. +Trust your horse in any event, and if you strike above or below +headquarters, if you keep your head on your shoulders you ought to +recognize the creek. Give your horse free rein and he'll take you +straight to the stable door. Bring half a sack of corn, some bread and +meat, the tent-fly and blankets. Start an hour before daybreak, and +you'll find me in the lead of the herd." + +The brothers parted for the night. So long as he could ride in their +lead, the necessity of holding the cattle was the lodestar that +sustained Joel Wells during those lonely hours. There was always the +hope that the storm would abate, when the tired cattle would gladly halt +and bed down, which promise lightened the passing time. The work was +easy to boy and horse; to retard the march of the leaders, that the rear +might easily follow, was the task of the night or until relieved. + +On the other hand, Dell's self-reliance lacked caution. Secure in his +ability to ride a course, day or night, fair or foul weather, he had +barely reached the southern slope of the Beaver when darkness fell. The +horse was easily quartering the storm, but the pelting snow in the boy's +face led him to rein his mount from a true course, with the result that +several miles was ridden without reaching any recognizable landmark. A +ravine or dry wash was finally encountered, when Dell dismounted. As a +matter of precaution, he carried matches, and on striking one, confusion +assumed the reign over all caution and advice. He was lost, but +contentious to the last ditch. Several times he remounted and allowed +his horse free rein, but each time Dog-toe turned into the eye of the +storm, then the true course home, and was halted. Reason was abandoned +and disorder reigned. An hour was lost, when the confident boy mounted +his horse and took up his former course, almost crossing the line of +storm on a right angle. A thousand visible forms, creatures of the night +and storm, took shape in the bewildered mind of Dell Wells, and after +dismounting and mounting unknown times, he floundered across Beaver +Creek fully three miles below headquarters. + +The hour was unknown. Still confused, Dell finally appealed to his +horse, and within a few minutes Dog-toe was in a road and champing the +bits against restraint. The boy dismounted, and a burning match revealed +the outlines of a road under the soft snow. The horse was given rein +again and took the road like a hound, finally sweeping under a tree, +when another halt was made. It was the hackberry at the mouth of the +cove, its broken twigs bespoke a fire which Dell had built, and yet the +mute witness tree and impatient horse were doubted. And not until +Dog-toe halted at the stable door was the boy convinced of his error. + +"Dog-toe," said Dell, as he swung out of the saddle, "you forgot more +than I ever knew. You told me that I was wrong, and you pled with me +like a brother, and I wouldn't listen to you. I wonder if he'll forgive +me?" meditated Dell, as he opened the stable door. + +The horse hurriedly entered and nickered for his feed. "Yes, you shall +have an extra ration of corn," answered his rider. "And if you'll just +forgive me this once, the lesson you taught me to-night will never be +forgotten." + +It proved to be early in the evening--only eight o'clock. Even though +the lesson was taught by a dumb animal, it was worth its cost. Before +offering to sleep, Dell collected all the articles that were to make up +the pack, foddered the horses, set the alarm forward an hour, and sought +his blankets for a short rest. Several times the howling of the wind +awoke him, and unable to sleep out the night, he arose and built a fire. +The necessity of a pack saddle robbed him of his own, and, substituting +a blanket, at the appointed hour before dawn he started, with three +days' rations for man and horse. The snow had ceased falling, but a raw +March wind blew from the northwest, and taking his course with it, he +reached the divide at daybreak. A struggling sun gave him a bearing from +time to time, the sand dunes were sighted, and angling across the course +of the wind, the trail of the herd was picked up in the mushy snow. A +bull was overtaken, resting comfortably in a buffalo wallow; three +others were passed, feeding with the wind, and finally the sun burst +forth, revealing the brakes of the Prairie Dog. + +Where the cattle had drifted barely two miles an hour, sustenance was +following at a five-mile gait. The trail freshened in the snow, narrowed +and broadened, and near the middle of the forenoon the scattered herd +was sighted. The long yell of warning was answered only by a tiny +smoke-cloud, hanging low over the creek bed, and before Joel was aware +of his presence, Dell rode up to the very bank under which the fire +was burning. + +"How do you like an all-night drift?" shouted Dell. "How do snowballs +taste for breakfast?" + +"Come under the cliff and unpack," soberly replied Joel. "I hope this +is the last lesson in winter herding; I fail to see any romance in it." + +The horses were unsaddled and fed. "Give an account of yourself," urged +Dell, as the brothers returned to the fire. "How did you make out during +the night?" + +"I just humped my back like the other cattle and took my medicine," +replied Joel. "An Indian dances to keep warm, and I sang. You have no +idea how good company cattle are. One big steer laid his ear in Rowdy's +flank to warm it. I took him by the horn any number of times and woke +him up; he was just staggering along asleep. I talked to all the lead +cattle, named them after boys we knew at school, and sometimes they +would look up when I called to them. And the queerest thing happened! +You remember old Redman, our teacher, back in Ohio. Well, I saw him last +night. There was a black two-year-old steer among the lead cattle, and +every time I looked at him, I saw old Redman, with his humped shoulder, +his pug nose, and his half-shut eyes. It took the storm, the sullen +drift, to put that expression in the black steer's face, but it was old +Redman. During the two terms of school that he taught, he licked me a +score of times, but I dared him to come out of that black steer's face +and try it again. He must have heard me, for the little black steer +dropped back and never came to the lead again." + +"And had you any idea where you were?" inquired Dell, prompted by his +own experience. + +"I was right at home in the lead of the herd. The tepee might get lost, +but I couldn't. I knew we must strike the Prairie Dog, and the cattle +were within half a mile of it when day broke. Once I got my bearings, +Rowdy and I turned on the herd and checked the drift." + +A late breakfast fortified the boys for the day. It was fully +twenty-five miles back to the Beaver, but with the cattle weakened, the +horses worn, it was decided to rest a day before starting on the return. +During the afternoon, Dell went back and threw in the stragglers, and +towards evening all the cattle were put under loose herd and pointed +north. The sun had stripped the snow, and a comfortable camp was made +under the cliff. Wood was scarce on the Prairie Dog, but the dry, rank +stalks of the wild sunflower made a good substitute for fuel, and night +settled over human and animal in the full enjoyment of every comfort. + +It was a two-days' trip returning. To Rowdy fell the duty of pack +horse. He had led the outward march, and was entitled to an easy berth +on retreat. The tarpaulin was folded the full length of the horse's body +girth, both saddles being required elsewhere, and the corn and blankets +laid within the pack and all lashed securely. The commissary supplies +being light, saddle pockets and cantle strings were found sufficient for +their transportation. + +The start was made at sunrise. The cattle had grazed out several miles +the evening before, and in their weakened condition it would require +nursing to reach the Beaver. A mile an hour was the pace, nothing like a +compact herd or driving was permissible, and the cattle were allowed to +feed or rest at their will. Rowdy grazed along the flank, the boys +walked as a relief, and near evening or on sighting the dunes, Dell took +the pack horse and rode for their shelter, to locate a night camp. The +herd never swerved from its course, and after sunset Joel rounded the +cattle into compact form and bedded them down for the night. A beacon +fire of plum brush led him to the chosen camp, in the sand hills, where +supper awaited the brothers. + +"Isn't it lucky," said Dell, as he snuggled under the blankets, "that +the wolves are gone. Suppose they were here yet, and we had to build +fires, or stand guard over the herd to-night, like trail men, could +we do it?" + +"Certainly. We met the wolves before and held the cattle. You seem to +forget that we're not entitled to sleep any in the winter. Be grateful. +Thank the wolf and go to sleep." + +"See how the dunes loom up in the light of this camp-fire. I wish Mr. +Paul could see it." + +"More than likely he has camped in the dunes and enjoyed many rousing +fires." + +Dell's next remark was unanswered. The stars twinkled overhead, the +sandman was abroad, curfew sounded through the dunes, and all was quiet. + +"Here's where we burn the wagon," said Joel, as he aroused Dell at +daybreak. "It's one of Mr. Quince's remarks, but this is the first time +we've had a chance to use it. I'll divide the corn into three good +feeds, and we'll make it in home for supper. Let's have the whole +hummingbird for breakfast, so that when we ride out of this camp, all +worth saving will be the coffee pot and frying pan. So long as we hold +the cattle, who cares for expense." + +The herd was in hand as it left the bed ground. An ideal spring day lent +its aid to the snailing cattle. By the middle of the afternoon the +watershed had been crossed, and the gradual slope clown to the Beaver +was begun. Rowdy forged to the lead, the flanks turned in, the rear +pushed forward, and the home-hunger of the herd found expression in loud +and continued lowing. + +"I must have been mistaken about the spirit of this herd being killed," +observed Dell. "When I left you the other day, to go after a pack horse, +these cattle looked dead on their feet. I felt sure that we would lose a +hundred head, and we haven't lost a hoof." + +"We may have a lot to learn yet about cattle," admitted Joel. "I fully +expected to see our back track strung with dead animals." + +The origin of the herd, with its deeps and moods, is unknown and +unwritten. The domesticity of cattle is dateless. As to when the ox +first knew his master's crib, history and tradition are dumb. Little +wonder that Joel and Dell Wells, with less than a year's experience, +failed to fully understand their herd. An incident, similar to the one +which provoked the observation of the brothers, may explain those placid +depths, the deep tenacity and latent power of the herd. + +After delivering its cargo at an army post, an extensive freighting +outfit was returning to the supply point. Twelve hundred oxen were +employed. On the outward trip, muddy roads were encountered, the wagons +were loaded beyond the strength of the teams, and the oxen had arrived +at the fort exhausted, spiritless, and faint to falling under their +yokes. Many oxen had been abandoned as useless within one hundred miles +of the post, thus doubling the work on the others. On the return trip, +these scattered oxen, the lame and halt, were gathered to the number of +several hundred, and were being driven along at the rear of the wagon +train. Each day added to their numbers, until one fourth of all the oxen +were being driven loose at the rear of the caravan. One day a boy +blindfolded a cripple ox, which took fright and charged among his +fellows, bellowing with fear. It was tinder to powder! The loose oxen +broke from the herders, tore past the column of wagons, frenzied in +voice and action. The drivers lost control of their teams, bedlam +reigned, and the entire wagon train joined in the general stampede. +Wagons were overturned and reduced to kindling in a moment of the +wildest panic. The drivers were glad to escape with their lives and were +left at the rear. A cloud of dust merely marked the direction which the +oxen had taken. The teams, six to eight yoke each, wrenched their +chains, broke the bows, and joined in the onrush. Many of the oxen, +still under yoke, were found the next day fifteen miles distant from the +scene of the incident, and unapproachable except on horseback. For a +month previous to this demonstration of the latent power of cattle, the +humane drivers of the wagon train were constantly lamenting that the +spirit of their teams was killed. + +When within a mile of the Beaver, the herd was turned westward and given +its freedom. While drifting down the slope, Rowdy gradually crept far to +the lead, and as the brothers left the cattle and bore off homeward, the +horse took up a gentle trot, maintaining his lead until the stable +was reached. + +"Look at the dear old rascal," said Joel, beaming with pride. "That +horse knows more than some folks." + +"Yes, and if Dog-toe could talk," admitted Dell, stroking his horse's +neck, "he could tell a good joke on me. I may tell it myself some +day--some time when I want to feel perfectly ashamed of myself." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A WELCOME GUEST + + +The heralds of spring bespoke its early approach. April was ushered in +to the songs of birds, the greening valley, and the pollen on the +willow. The frost arose, the earth mellowed underfoot, and the creek +purled and sang as it hastened along. The cattle played, calves were +born, while the horses, in shedding their winter coats, matted the +saddle blankets and threw off great tufts of hair where they rolled on +the ground. + +The marketing of the peltry fell to Joel. Dell met the wagon returning +far out on the trail. "The fur market's booming," shouted Joel, on +coming within speaking distance. "We'll not know the price for a few +weeks. The station agent was only willing to ship them. The storekeeper +was anxious to do the same, and advanced me a hundred dollars on the +shipment. Wolf skins, prime, are quoted from two to two dollars and a +half. And I have a letter from Forrest. The long winter's over! You can +shout! G'long, mules!" + +During the evening, Dell read Forrest's letter again and again. "Keep +busy until the herds arrive," it read. "Enlarge your water supply and +plan to acquire more cattle." + +"That's our programme," said Joel. "We'll put in two dams between here +and the trail. Mr. Quince has never advised us wrong, and he'll explain +things when he comes. Once a week will be often enough to ride around +the cattle." + +An air of activity was at once noticeable around headquarters. The +garden was ploughed and planting begun. The fence was repaired around +the corn-field, the beaver dams were strengthened, and sites for two +other reservoirs were selected. The flow of the creek was ample to fill +large tanks, and if the water could be conserved for use during the dry +summer months, the cattle-carrying capacity of the ranch could be +greatly enlarged. The old beaver dams around headquarters had withstood +every drouth, owing to the shade of the willows overhead, the roots of +which matted and held the banks intact. Wagon loads of willow slips were +accordingly cut for the new dams and the work begun in earnest. + +"We'll take the tent and camp at the lower site," announced Joel. "It +would waste too much time to go and come. When we build the upper one, +we can work from home." + +The two tanks were finished within a month. They were built several +miles apart, where there was little or no fall in the creek, merely to +hold still water in long, deep pools. The willow cuttings were planted +along the borders and around the dams, the ends of which were riprapped +with stone, and a spillway cut to accommodate any overflow +during freshets. + +The dams were finished none too soon, as a dry spring followed, and the +reservoirs had barely filled when the creek ceased flowing. The unusual +winter snowfall had left a season's moisture in the ground, and the +grass came in abundance, matting slope and valley, while the garden grew +like a rank weed. The corn crop of the year before had repaid well in +forage, and was again planted. In the face of another drouthy summer, +the brothers sowed as if they fully expected to reap. "Keep busy" was +the slogan of the springtime. + +The month of June arrived without a sign of life on the trail. Nearly +one hundred calves were born to the herd on the Beaver, the peltry had +commanded the highest quotation, and Wells Brothers swaggered in their +saddles. But still the herds failed to come. + +"Let's put up the tent," suggested Dell, "just as if we were expecting +company. Mr. Paul or Mr. Quince will surely ride in some of these +evenings. Either one will reach here a full day in the lead of his herd. +Let's make out that we're looking for them." + +Dell's suggestion was acted on. A week passed and not a trail man +appeared. "There's something wrong," said Joel, at the end of the second +week. "The Lovell herds go through, and there's sixteen of them on +the trail." + +"They're water-bound," said Dell, jumping at a conclusion. + +"Waterbound, your foot! The men and horses and cattle can all swim. +Don't you remember Mr. Quince telling about rafting his wagon across +swimming rivers? Waterbound, your grandmother! High water is nothing to +those trail men." + +Dell was silenced. The middle of June came and the herds had not +appeared. The brothers were beginning to get uneasy for fear of bad +news, when near dark one evening a buckboard drove up. Its rumbling +approach hurried the boys outside the tent, when without a word of hail, +Quince Forrest sprang from the vehicle, grasped Dell, and the two rolled +over and over on the grass. + +"I just wanted to roll him in the dirt to make him grow," explained +Forrest to an elderly man who accompanied him. "These are my boys. Look +at that red-headed rascal--fat as a calf with two mothers. Boys, shake +hands with Mr. Lovell." + +The drover alighted and greeted the boys with fatherly kindness. He was +a frail man, of medium height, nearly sixty years of age, with an energy +that pulsed in every word and action. There was a careworn expression in +his face, while an intensity of purpose blazed from hungry, deep-set +eyes which swept every detail of the scene at a glance. That he was +worried to the point of exhaustion was evident the moment that +compliments were exchanged. + +"Show me your water supply," said he to Joel; "old beaver ponds, if I am +correctly informed. We must move fifty thousand cattle from Dodge to the +Platte River within the next fortnight. One of the worst drouths in the +history of the trail confronts us, and if you can water my cattle +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River, you can name your +own price." + +"Let's drive around," said Forrest, stepping into the blackboard, +"before it gets too dark. Come on, boys, and show Mr. Lovell the water." + +All four boarded the vehicle, the boys standing up behind the single +seat, and drove away. In a mile's meanderings of the creek were five +beaver ponds, over which in many places the willows interlapped. The +pools stood bank full, and after sounding them, the quartette turned +homeward, satisfied of the abundant water supply. + +"There's water and to spare for the entire drive," said Forrest to his +employer. "It isn't the amount drank, it's the absorption of the sun +that gets away with water. Those willows will protect the pools until +the cows come home. I felt sure of the Beaver." + +"Now, if we can arrange to water my herds here--" + +"That's all arranged," replied Forrest. "I'm a silent partner in this +ranch. Anything that Wells Brothers owns is yours for the asking. Am I +right, boys?" + +"If Mr. Lovell needs the water, he is welcome to it," modestly replied +Joel. + +"That's my partner talking," said Forrest; "that was old man Joel Wells +that just spoke. He's the senior member of the firm. Oh, these boys of +mine are cowmen from who laid the rail. They're not out to rob a +neighbor. Once you hear from the head of the Stinking Water, you can +order the herds to pull out for the Platte." + +"Yes," said Mr. Lovell, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, but let's get the +water on the Beaver clear first. What does this mean? I offer a man his +price to water my cattle, and he answers me that I'm welcome to it for +nothing. I'm suspicious of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts. Are +you three plotting against me?" + +"That's it," replied Forrest. "You caught the gleam of my axe all right. +In the worry of this drouth, you've overlooked the fact that you have +five horses on this ranch. They were left here last fall, expecting to +pick them up this spring. Two of them were cripples and three were good +cow horses. Now, these boys of mine are just branching out into cattle, +and they don't need money, but a few good horses are better than gold. +That's about the plot. What would you say was the right thing to do?" + +Mr. Lovell turned to the boys. "The five horses are yours. But I'm still +in your debt. Is there anything else that you need?" + +The question was repeated to Forrest. "By the time the herds reach +here," said he, mildly observant, "there will be quite a number of +tender-footed and fagged cattle. They could never make it through +without rest, but by dropping them here, they would have a fighting +chance to recuperate before winter. There won't be a cent in an +abandoned steer for you, but these boys--" + +"Trim the herds here on the Beaver," interrupted Mr. Lovell. "I'll give +all my foremen orders to that effect. Cripples are worthless to me, but +good as gold to these boys. What else?" + +"Oh, just wish the boys good luck, and if it ever so happens, speak a +good word for the Wells Brothers. I found them white, and I think you'll +find them on the square." + +"Well, this is a happy termination," said Mr. Lovell, as he alighted at +the tent. "Our water expense between Dodge and Ogalalla will not exceed +five thousand dollars. It cost me double that getting out of Texas." + +Secure on the Beaver, the brothers were unaware of the outside drouth, +which explained the failure of the herds to appear on the trail as in +other years. It meant the delay of a fortnight, and the concentration of +a year's drive into a more limited space of time. Unconscious of its +value, the boys awoke to the fact that they controlled the only water +between the Prairie Dog and the Republican River--sixty miles of the +plain. Many of the herds were under contract and bond to cattle +companies, individuals, army posts, and Indian agencies, and no excuse +would be accepted for any failure to deliver. The drouth might prove an +ill-wind to some, but the Beaver valley was not only exempt but could +extend relief. + +After supper, hosts and guests adjourned to the tent. Forrest had +unearthed the winter struggle of his proteges, and gloating over the +manner in which the boys had met and overcome the unforeseen, he assumed +an observant attitude in addressing his employer. + +"You must be working a sorry outfit up on the Little Missouri," said he, +"to lose ten per cent of straight steer cattle. My boys, here on the +Beaver, report a measly loss of twelve head, out of over five hundred +cattle. And you must recollect that these were rag-tag and bob-tail, the +flotsam of a hundred herds, forty per cent cripples, walking on +crutches. Think of it! Two per cent loss, under herd, a sleet over the +range for six weeks, against your ten per cent kill on an open range. +You must have a slatterly, sore-thumbed lot of men on your beef ranch." + +Mr. Lovell was discouraged over the outlook of his cattle interests. +"That was a first report that you are quoting from," said he to Forrest. +"It was more prophecy than statement. We must make allowances for young +men. There is quite a difference between getting scared and being hurt. +My beef outfit has orders to go three hundred miles south of our range +and cover all round-ups northward. It was a severe winter, and the drift +was heavy, but I'm not worrying any about that sore-fingered outfit. +Promptly meeting government contracts is our work to-day. My cattle are +two weeks behind time, and the beef herds must leave Dodge to-morrow. +Help me figure it out: Can you put me on the railroad by noon?" he +concluded, turning to Joel. + +"Easily, or I can carry a message to-night." + +"There's your programme," said Forrest, interceding. "One of these boys +can take you to Grinnell in time for the eastbound train. Wire your beef +herds to pull out for the Platte. You can trust the water to improve +from here north." + +"And you?" inquired the drover, addressing his foreman. + +"I'll take the buckboard and go north until I meet Paul. That will cover +the last link in the trail. We'll know our water then, and time our +drives to help the cattle. It's as clear as mud." + +"Just about," dubiously answered Mr. Lovell. "Unless I can get an +extension of time on my beef contracts, the penalty under my bonds will +amount to a fortune." + +"The army is just as well aware of this drouth as you are," said +Forrest, "and the War Department will make allowances. The government +don't expect the impossible." + +"Yes," answered the old drover with feeling. "Yes, but it exacts a bond, +and stipulates the daily forfeiture, and if any one walks the plank, +it's not your dear old Uncle Samuel. And it matters not how much sleep I +lose, red tape never worries." + +The boys made a movement as if to withdraw, and Forrest arose. "The +programme for to-morrow, then, is understood," said the latter. "The +horses will be ready at daybreak." + +It was midnight when the trio sought their blankets. On the part of the +brothers, there was a constant reference to their guest, the drover, and +a desire, if in their power, to aid him in every way. + +"I wanted you boys to meet and get acquainted with Mr. Lovell," said +Forrest, as all were dozing off to sleep. "There is a cowman in a +thousand, and his word carries weight in cattle matters. He's rather +deep water, unless you cross or surprise him. I nagged him about the men +on his beef ranch. He knew the cattle wouldn't winter kill when they +could drift, and the round-up will catch every living hoof. He was too +foxy to borrow any trouble there, and this long yell about the drouth +interfering with delivery dates keeps the trail outfits against the +bits. Admitting his figures, the water expense won't be a drop in the +bucket. It affords good worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting +form. I'm glad he came along; treat him fair and square, and his +friendship means something to you, boys." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN ILL WIND + + +The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the morning. Joel +accompanied the drover, the two best horses being under saddle, easily +capable of a road gait that would reach the railroad during the early +forenoon. The direct course lay across country, and once the sun flooded +the Beaver valley, the cowman swung around in the saddle and his +practical eye swept the range. On sighting Hackberry Grove, the broken +country beyond, including the sand hills, he turned to his guide. + +"My boy," said Mr. Lovell, "you brothers have a great future before you. +This is an ideal cattle range. The very grass under our horses' feet +carries untold wealth. But you lack cattle. You have the range here for +thousands where you are running hundreds. Buy young steers; pay any +price; but get more cattle. The growth of young steers justifies any +outlay. Come down to Dodge about the first of August. This drouth is +liable to throw some bargains on that market. Be sure and come. I'll +keep an eye open in your interest on any cattle for sale." + +The old drover's words bewildered Joel. The ways and means were not +entirely clear, but the confidence of the man in the future of the +brothers was gratifying. Meanwhile, at the little ranch the team stood +in waiting, and before the horseman had passed out of sight to the south +the buckboard started on its northern errand. Dell accompanied it, +protesting against his absence from home, but Forrest brushed aside +every objection. + +"Come on, come on," said he to Dell; "you have no saddle, and we may be +back to-night. We're liable to meet Paul on the Republican. Turn your +ranch loose and let it run itself. Come on; we ain't halfway through our +figuring." + +Joel returned after dark. Priest had left Ogalalla, to the north, the +same day that Forrest and his employer started up the trail from the +south, and at the expected point the two foremen met. The report showed +water in abundance from the Republican River northward, confirming +Forrest's assertion to his employer, and completing the chain of waters +between Dodge and Ogalalla. Priest returned with the buckboard, which +reached the Beaver after midnight, and aroused Joel out of heavy sleep. + +"I just wanted to say," said Priest, sitting on the edge of Joel's bunk, +"that I had my ear to the ground and heard the good fighting. Yes, I +heard the sleet cracking. You never saw me, but I was with you the night +you drifted to the Prairie Dog. Take it all along the line, wasn't it +good fighting?" + +"Has Dell told you everything?" inquired Joel, sitting up in his +blankets. + +"Everything, including the fact that he got lost the night of the March +drift, while going home after a pack horse. Wouldn't trust poor old +Dog-toe, but run on the rope himself! Landed down the creek here a few +miles. News to you? Well, he admits that the horse forgot more than he +himself ever knew. That's a hopeful sign. As long as a man hearkens to +his horse, there is no danger of bad counsel being thrust on him." + +The boys were catching, at first hand, an insight into the exacting +nature of trail work. Their friends were up with the dawn, and while +harnessing in the team, Forrest called Joel's attention to setting the +ranch in order to water the passing herds. + +"I was telling Dell yesterday," said he, "the danger of Texas fever +among wintered cattle, and you must isolate your little herd until +after frost falls. Graze your cattle up around Hackberry Grove, and keep +a dead-line fully three miles wide between the wintered and through +trail herds. Any new cattle that you pick up, cripples or strays, hold +them down the creek--between here and the old trail crossing. For fear +of losing them you can't even keep milk cows around the ranch, so turn +out your calves. Don't ask me to explain Texas fever. It's one of the +mysteries of the trail. The very cattle that impart it after a winter in +the north catch the fever and die like sheep. It seems to exist, in a +mild form, in through, healthy cattle, but once imparted to native or +northern wintered stock, it becomes violent and is usually fatal. The +sure, safe course is to fear and avoid it." + +The two foremen were off at an early hour. Priest was again in charge of +Lovell's lead herd, and leaving the horse that he had ridden to the +Republican River in care of the boys, he loitered a moment at parting. + +"If my herd left Dodge at noon yesterday," said he, mentally +calculating, "I'll overtake it some time to-morrow night. Allowing ten +days to reach here--" + +He turned to the boys. "This is the sixteenth of June. Well, come out on +the divide on the morning of the twenty-fifth and you will see a dust +cloud in the south. The long distance between waters will put the herd +through on schedule time. Come out and meet me." + +The brothers waved the buckboard away. The dragging days were over. The +herds were coming, and their own little ranch promised relief to the +drover and his cattle. + +"Mr. Quince says the usual price for watering trail herds is from one to +three cents a head," said Dell, as their friends dipped from sight. "The +government, so he says, allows three cents for watering cavalry horses +and harness mules. He tells me that the new settlers, in control of the +water on the trail, in northern Texas, fairly robbed the drovers this +year. The pastoral Texan, he contends, shared his canteen with the +wayfarer, and never refused to water cattle. He wants us to pattern +after the Texans--to give our water and give it freely. When Mr. Lovell +raised the question of arranging to water his herds from our beaver +ponds, do you remember how Mr. Quince answered for us? I'm mighty glad +money wasn't mentioned. No money could buy Dog-toe from me. And Mr. +Lovell gave us three of our best horses." + +"He offered me ten dollars for taking him to the railroad," said Joel, +"but I looked him square in the eye and refused the money. He says we +must buy more cattle. He wants me to come to Dodge in August, and +I'm going." + +Dell treated the idea of buying cattle with slight disdain. +"You--going--to--buy--more--cattle?" said he, accenting each word. "Any +one tell your fortune lately?" + +"Yes," answered the older boy. "I'm having it told every day. One of +those two men, the gray-haired one on that buckboard,--stand here and +you can see them,--told me over a year ago that this range had a value, +and that we ought to skirmish some cattle, some way, and stock it. What +he saw clearly then, I see now, and what Mr. Lovell sees now, you may +see a year hence. These men have proved their friendship, and why stand +in our own light? Our ability to hold cattle was tested last winter, and +if this range is an asset, there may be some way to buy more cattle. I'm +going to Dodge in August." + +Dell was silenced. There was ample time to set the ranch in order. +Turning away from the old trail, on the divide, and angling in to +headquarters, and thence northward, was but a slight elbow on the +general course of the trail herds. The long distance across to the +Republican would compel an early watering on the Beaver, that the cattle +might reach the former river the following evening. The brothers knew to +a fraction the grazing gait of a herd, the trailing pace, and could +anticipate to an hour the time required to move a herd from the Prairie +Dog to the Beaver. + +The milk cows and calves were turned back into the general herd. The +dead-line was drawn safely below Hackberry Grove, between imaginary +landmarks on either slope, while on the creek, like a sentinel, stood a +lone willow which seemed to say, "Thus far shalt thou go and no +farther." The extra horses, now in the pink of condition, were brought +home and located below the ranch, and the house stood in order. + +The arrival of the first herd had been correctly calculated. The +brothers rode out late on the morning designated, but did not reach the +divide. The foremost herd was met within seven miles of the Beaver, the +leaders coming on with the steady stride of thirsty cattle that had +scented water. Priest was nowhere in sight, but the heavy beeves +identified the herd, and when the boys hailed a point man, the +situation cleared. + +"Mr. Paul--our boss?" repeated the point man. "He's setting up a +guide-board, back on the divide, where we turned off from the old +trail. Say, does this dim wagon track we're following lead to Wells +Brothers' ranch?" + +"It does," answered Joel. "You can see the willows from the next swell +of the prairie," added Dell, as the brothers passed on. + +It was a select herd of heavy beeves. In spite of the drouth +encountered, the cattle were in fine condition, and as the herd snailed +forward at its steady march, the sweep of horn, the variety of color, +the neat outline of each animal blended into a pastoral picture of +strength and beauty. + +The boys rode down the advancing column. A swing man on the opposite +side of the herd waved his hand across to the brothers, and while the +two were speculating as to who he might be, a swing lad on the left +reined out and saluted the boys. + +With hand extended, he smilingly inquired, "Don't you remember the day +we branded your cattle? How did the Two Bars and the ---- Y +cows winter?" + +"It's Billy Honeyman," said Dell, beaming. "Who is that man across the +herd, waving at us?" he inquired, amid hearty greeting. + +"That's Runt Pickett, the little fellow who helped us brand--the lad who +rushed the cattle. The herd cuts him off from shaking hands. Turn your +horses the other way and tell me how you like it out West." + +Dell turned back, but Joel continued on. The column of beeves was fully +a mile in length. After passing the drag end of the herd, the wagon and +remuda were sighted, later met, with the foreman still at the rear. The +dust cloud of yet another herd arose in the distance, and while Joel +pondered on its location over the divide, a horseman emerged from a dip +in the plain and came toward him in a slow gallop. + +"There's no foreman with the next herd," explained Priest, slacking his +horse into a walk, "and the segundo wasn't sure which swell was the real +divide. We trailed two herds past your ranch last summer, but the frost +has mellowed up the soil and the grass has overgrown the paths until +every trace is gone. I planted a guide-post and marked it 'Lovell's +Trail,' so the other foremen will know where to turn off. All the old +man's herds are within three or four days' drive, and after that it's +almost a solid column of cattle back to Dodge. Forrest is in charge of +the rear herd, and will pick up any of our abandoned cattle." + +The two shook out their mounts, passed the commissary and saddle stock, +but halted a moment at the drag end of the herd. "We've been dropping +our cripples," explained Priest, "but the other herds will bring them +through. There's not over one or two here, but I'm going to saw off +three horses on Wells Brothers. Good ones, too, that is, good for +next year." + +A halt was made at the lead of the herd, and some directions given the +point man. It was still early in the forenoon, and once man and boy had +fairly cleared the leaders in front, a signal was given and the cattle +turned as a single animal and fell to grazing. The wagon and remuda +never halted; on being joined by the two horsemen, they continued on +into the Beaver. Eleven o'clock was the hour named to water the herd, +and punctual to the moment the beeves, with a mile-wide front, were +grazed up to the creek. + +The cattle were held around the pools for an hour. Before dinner was +over, the acting foreman of the second herd rode in, and in mimicking a +trail boss, issued some drastic orders. The second herd was within +sight, refused to graze, and his wagon was pulling in below the ranch +for the noon camp. + +Priest looked at his watch. "Start the herd," said he to his own men. +"Hold a true northward course, and camp twelve miles out to-night. I may +not be with you, but water in the Republican at six o'clock to-morrow +evening. Bring in your herd, young fellow," he concluded, addressing +the segundo. + +The watering of a trail herd is important. Mere opportunity to quench +thirst is not sufficient. The timid stand in awe of the strong, and the +excited milling cattle intimidate the weak and thirsty. An hour is the +minimum time, during which half the herd may drink and lie down, +affording the others the chance to approach without fear and slake +their thirst. + +The acting foreman signaled in his herd. The beeves around the water +were aroused, and reluctantly grazed out on their course, while the +others came on with a sullen stride that thirst enforces. The previous +scene of contentment gave way to frenzy. The heavy beeves, equally +select with the vanguard, floundered into the pools, lowed in their joy, +drank to gorging, fought their fellows, staggered out of the creek, and +dropped to rest in the first dust or dry grass. + +Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda. A third herd appeared, when he +and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle, and sent the +second herd on its way. Each of the three advance herds must reach the +Republican the following day, and it was scant two o'clock when the +third one trailed out from the Beaver. With mature cattle there were +few cripples, and the day ended with an addition to the little ranch of +the promised horses and a few tender-footed beeves. There were two more +herds of heavy beef cattle to follow, which would arrive during the next +forenoon, and the old foreman remained over until the last cattle, +intended for army delivery, had passed the ranch. + +The herd never fails. Faith in cattle is always rewarded. From that far +distant dawn when man and his ox started across the ages the one has +ever sustained the other. The two rear beef herds promptly reached the +Beaver the next morning, slaked their thirst, and passed on before noon. + +"This lets me out as your guest," said Priest to the boys, when the last +herd was trimmed. "Bob Quirk will now follow with six herds of contract +cattle. He's the foreman of the second herd of beeves, but Mr. Lovell +detailed him to oversee this next division across to the Platte. Forrest +will follow Quirk with the last five herds of young steers, slated for +the old man's beef ranch on the Little Missouri. That puts our cattle +across the Beaver, but you'll have plenty of company for the next month. +Mr. Lovell has made a good talk for you boys around Dodge, and if you'll +give these trail drovers this water, it will all come back. As cowmen, +there are two things that you want to remember--that it'll rain again, +and that the cows will calve in the spring." + +Priest had barely left the little ranch when Bob Quirk arrived. Before +dismounting, he rode around the pools, signaled in a wagon and remuda, +and returned to the tent. + +"This is trailing cattle with a vengeance," said he, stripping his +saddle from a tired horse. "There has been such a fight for water this +year that every foreman seems to think that unless he reaches the river +to-day it'll be dry to-morrow. Five miles apart was the limit agreed on +before leaving Dodge, and here I am with six herds--twenty thousand +cattle!--within twenty miles of the Beaver. For fear of a stampede last +night, we threw the herds left and right, two miles off the trail. The +Lord surely loves cattle or the earth would have shook from +running herds!" + +That afternoon and the next morning the second division of the Lovell +herds crossed the Beaver. Forrest rode in and saluted the boys with his +usual rough caress. + +"Saddle up horses," said he, "and drop back and come through with the +two rear herds, There's a heavy drag end on each one, and an extra man +to nurse those tender cows over here, to home and friends, will be +lending a hand to the needy. I'll run the ranch while you're gone. One +of you to each, the fourth and fifth herds, remember. I'll meet you +to-morrow morning, and we'll cut the cripples out and point them in to +the new tanks below. Shake out your fat horses, sweat them up a +little--you're needed at the rear of Lovell's main drive." + +The boys saddled and rode away in a gallop. Three of the rear herds +reached the Beaver that afternoon, watered, and passed on to safe camps +beyond. One of Quirk's wagons had left a quarter of beef at +headquarters, and Forrest spent the night amid peace and plenty where +the year before he lay wounded. + +The next morning saw the last of the Lovell herds arrive. The lead one +yielded ninety cripples, and an hour later the rear guard disgorged a +few over one hundred head. The two contingents were thrown together, the +brothers nursed them in to the new tanks, where they were freed on a +perfect range. A count of the cripples and fagged cattle, culled back at +headquarters, brought the total discard of the sixteen herds up to two +hundred and forty-odd, a riffraff of welcome flotsam, running from a +young steer to a seven-year-old beef. The sweepings had paid the +reckoning. + +Several other trail foremen, scouting in advance of their herds, had +reached the Beaver, or had been given assurance that water was to be had +in abundance. A measurement of the water was awaited with interest, and +once the rear herd grazed out from the beaver ponds, Forrest and the +brothers rode around the pools to take soundings. + +"I cut notches on willow roots, at each beaver dam, and the loss runs +from four to six inches, the lower pools suffering the heaviest," said +Joel, summing up the situation. + +"They're holding like cisterns," exultingly said Forrest. "Fifty +thousand cattle watered, and only lowered the pools on an average of +five inches. The upper one's still taking water--that's the reason it's +standing the drain. Write it in the sand or among the stars, but the +water's here for this year's drive. Go back and tell those waiting +foremen to bring on their cattle. Headquarters ranch will water every +trail herd, or break a tug trying." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WATER! WATER! + + +"Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of trail +foremen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out better +than we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a trifle. +From the present outlook, we can water the drive." + +"That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" trail boss. +"I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw River at Dodge +was only running at night." + +"Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," doggedly said +a pock-marked foreman. + +"That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W man. "The +faraway hills are always green." + +The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the total +drive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, addressing +the pock-marked foreman. + +"A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty thousand +head," came the languid reply. + +"There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to Joel. +"Better revise your water estimate." + +"Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I may have +to hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle." + +"That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, arising. "My +cattle must have water this evening." + +The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked the +pock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we drop our +strays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that Mr. Lovell +mentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be abandoned." + +"At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the little +man. + +"Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running W +foreman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to a +tender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear ones +have orders to bring through to you." + +"Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our range, and +crippled cattle are as good as gold to us." + +Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys followed, and +Dell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on the drag end of +your herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll get up a fresh horse +and overtake you." + +"Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign your +petition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm as good +as afoot." + +The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," said Joel +to the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the lead herd, +come in on the water above the field. The upper pools are the deepest, +and let your cattle cover the water evenly." + +"I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to come up +to the water in trailing formation. The cattle have suffered from +thirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, if grazed up to it. +You may take one point and I'll take the other." + +The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. Among +the old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. Wells Brothers +were being thrown in contact with the most practical men that the +occupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The novelty of trailing +cattle vast distances had its origin with the Texans. Bred to the +calling, they were masters of the craft. In the hands of an adept outfit +of a dozen men, a trail herd of three thousand beeves had all the +mobility of a brigade of cavalry. The crack of a whip was unheard on the +trail. A whispered order, followed by a signal to the men, and the herd +turned, grazed to its contentment, fell into column formation, and took +up its march--a peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contact +with these men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which once +patrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the boys. + +The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a mile of +the water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel Wells. But +instead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on into the lead, +the action being seemingly understood by every one except the new hand +on the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive column of beeves yield to +his slightest pressure, as a ship to the hand of the helmsman, as he +veered the leaders out of the broken trails and guided the herd around +the field to the upper pools. On nearing the water, the deposed point +men deployed nearer the lead, when the object of their position +explained itself. On sighting the ponds, the leaders broke into a run, +but the four horsemen at hand checked the excited dash, and the herd was +led up to the water in column formation. It was the mastery of man over +the creature. + +The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of the +pock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The swarthy +little man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an Indian agency +in Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under contract to +different cattle companies, in adjoining states and territories. The +tall foreman's herd was also under contract, but the point of delivery +was at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch outfit would receive +the cattle. + +The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven on +speculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, and the +men, including the foreman, were as good as afoot. + +"This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, "of +walking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A mount of six +horses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it won't do on the +trail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on the Platte. Actually, +this afternoon is the first time I have felt a horse under me since we +crossed Red River. Give me a sheet of paper, please. I want to give you +a bill of sale for these six drag ponies that I'm sawing off on you. I +carry written authority to give a bill of sale, and it will always +protect your possession of the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar a +head in Ogalalla, but when they round into form again next summer, some +brand ferret passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that I +cull out here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned." + +The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. The rush +of the past few days had kept them in the saddle during their waking +hours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting of cripples to the +new tanks below was pressing, and order must be established. The water +in the pools was the main concern, a thing beyond human control, and a +matter of constant watchfulness. A remark dropped during the day, of +water flowing at night, was not lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells. + +"What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W foreman, +while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only running +at night?" + +"All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by day," +replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of the plain, +including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the south, only flow at +night. It's their protection against the sun's absorption. Mark these +pools at sunset and see if they don't rise an inch to-night. Try it +and see." + +Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. The +extreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, a +struggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was indulged +in and freely expressed. + +"If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, sleepless in his +blankets, "it'll double our holding of cattle." + +"It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got to stand +by these trail herds--there is no other water short of the Republican. +I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are gone, we'll round up +the wintered cattle, drift them over to the south fork of the +Republican, and get some one to hold them until frost falls. Then we'll +ship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, and that will free the new +tanks--water enough for twenty trail herds. We have the horses, and +these trail outfits will lend us any help we need. By shifting cattle +around, I can see a month's supply. And there may be something in water +rising at night. We'll know in the morning." + +Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the trail +foreman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss knew," shouted +Joel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The water rose in every +pool. The lower one gained an inch and the upper one gained two. The +creek is running freely. The water must be rising out of the ground. Let +those Texans bring on their herds. We have oceans of water!" + +The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new ranch. It +took riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared for, and a hand +was ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag end. Open house was +maintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered a horse, and left his +benediction on the Beaver. + +The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first foremen to +arrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up at sunset, with +a chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual easy manner +inquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?" + +"Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising the +situation. "One of your men hurt?" + +"Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. "Just a +little touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant water, out of +cow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets into the bones of the +best of us. I'm not feeling very well myself." + +Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the poor +fellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you and I +carry him?" + +"He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him in," +answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel Wells?" + +"Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and we'll +bring the sick man in at once." + +It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. The +unfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, Straw had +skirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules. + +"As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after greeting +Joel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one of the +trustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has to go back +to the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify them for +the trip." + +The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued Straw, +"by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the best men that +ever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him on his feet again. +Now, if one of you boys will take the team back to--" + +"Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this hospital wants +done--We're running a relief station now--watering the entire drive this +year. Where's your outfit camped?" + +"A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's empty. +Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in time for +breakfast." + +"I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, is a +horse that's easy curried." + +The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time the sick +man had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his cattle made +welcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, Straw had lost his +place in the overland march, two herds having passed him and crossed +the Beaver. + +"I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who arrived +together in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter that'll rob you +right. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the bill in advance. This +cool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth three cents a head, and I'll +count you down to a toddling calf and your wagon mules. Your drafts are +refused honor at the Beaver banks--nothing but the long green passes +currency here. You varmints must show some regrets for taking advantage +of a widow woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me." + +"How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of the +foremen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept with me? +How's the black cow I gave you last summer?" + +Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" said he, +recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. Sit down. +Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like lettuce?" + +"I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the two +mounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in smoke. You're +not the only director in this cattle company. Dell, ransack both our +wagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some dainties for this sick +lad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; he never has anything to eat; +Injuns won't go near his wagon." + +Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in the +morning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, make +yourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and they're +our people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when you get on +your feet, take your own bearings. You can always count on a job with +me, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit is relieved. This +fever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. I'll keep an eye over +you until you are well. S'long, Jack." + +The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. There +were fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of advancing summer +the pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources of the ponds were a +constant source of surprise, as an occasional heavy beef caved a foot +into an old beaver warren, which poured its contents into the pools. At +the end of the first fortnight, after watering fifty-eight herds, nearly +half the original quantity of water was still in reserve. + +A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the arrival of +herds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water reserves suffered +freely, more from the sun's absorption than from cattle, until the +supply became a matter of the most serious concern. The pools would not +have averaged a foot in depth, the flow from the springs was a mere +trickle, the beaver burrows sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, and +there must be some limit to the amount the parched soil would yield. + +The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the second +week, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack Sargent, was +up and observant of the situation. True to his calling, he felt for the +cattle, and knew the importance of water on the Beaver to the +passing drive. + +"You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the emergency. +"Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun an advantage. +It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You must deepen these +pools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest these ponds a few days, or +only water late at night. You have water for weeks yet, but don't let +the sun rob you. These ponds are living springs compared to some of the +water we used south of Red River. Meet the herds on the divide, and +pilot the early ones to the tanks below, and the late ones in here. +Shifting in your saddle rests a horse, and a little shifting will save +your water." + +The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was installed as +host on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their saddles. The majority +of the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and after a consultation with +the foremen their cattle were started so as to reach the tanks by day or +the ranch at evening. The month rounded out with the arrival of eighteen +herds, only six of which touched at headquarters, and the fourth week +saw a distinct gain in the water supply at the beaver dams. The boys +barely touched at home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons, +piloting in herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, and +content with the crumbs that fell to their range. + +The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral history of the +West. The southern end of the Texas and Montana cattle trail was marked +by the bones of forty thousand cattle that fell, due to the want of +water, during the months of travail on that long march. Some of this +loss was due to man's inhumanity to the cattle of the fields, in +withholding water, but no such charge rested on the owners of the little +ranch on the Beaver. + +A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's drive. +Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had strength in +reserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. The +fifth week only six herds arrived, all of which touched at the ranch; +half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had neither a cripple nor a +stray to bestow, but shared the welcome water and passed on. + +One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It was from +Don Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous invitation to come to +Dodge and look over the market. + +"After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have returned +to Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is inviting. The boom +prices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. Any investment in cattle +now is perfectly safe. + +"I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will pass your +ranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring a mount of +horses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this year's drive is +here, unsold. Be sure and come." + +"Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter. + +"I am," answered Joel with emphasis. + +"That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap that no +other man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to buy her. +Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to buy or all +want to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys have told me; +but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I can see that he's +going to take advantage of that market and buy about ten thousand +cattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. I'll stay with Dell until +you return. Buy a whole herd of steers, and I'll help you hold them +this winter." + +The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust cloud, the +slopes of the north were scanned for an approaching cavalcade. The last +week admitted of taking an account of the cattle dropped at the new +ranch. From the conserves of its owners, one hundred and four herds had +watered, over three hundred thousand cattle, the sweepings of which +amounted to a few over eleven hundred head, fully fifty of which, +exhausted beyond recovery, died after reaching their new range. + +By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August was +ushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the division +foremen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the morning, in advance +of his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for Joel. Dell answered for +the brothers, the older one and Sargent being above at Hackberry Grove. + +"I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. "Make +haste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of six horses +and throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the seventh. My outfit +will barely touch here in passing. We're due to receive cattle in Dodge +on the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can overtake us before night. +Make haste." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A PROTECTED CREDIT + + +The trail outfit swept past the ranch, leaving Dell on nettles. The +importance of the message was urgent, and saddling up a horse, he +started up the Beaver in search of Joel and Sargent. They were met +returning, near the dead-line, and after listening to the breathless +report, the trio gave free rein to their horses on the homeward ride. + +"I'll use old Rowdy for my seventh horse," said Joel, swinging out of +the saddle at the home corral. "Bring him in and give him a feed of +corn. It may be late when I overtake the outfit. Mr. Quince says that +that old horse has cow-sense to burn; that he can scent a camp at night, +or trail a remuda like a hound." + +An hour later Joel cantered up to the tent. "This may be a wild-goose +chase," said he, "but I'm off. If my hopes fall dead, I can make a hand +coming back. Sargent, if I do buy any cattle, your name goes on the +pay-roll from to-day. I'll leave you in charge of the ranch, anyhow. +There isn't much to do except to ride the dead-line twice a day. The +wintered cattle are located; and the cripples below--the water and +their condition will hold them. Keep open house, and amuse yourselves +the best you can. That's about all I can think of just now." + +Joel rode away in serious meditation. Although aged beyond his years, he +was only seventeen. That he could ride into Dodge City, the far-famed +trail-town of the West, and without visible resources buy cattle, was a +fit subject for musing. There the drovers from Texas and the ranchmen +from the north and west met and bartered for herds--where the drive of +the year amounted to millions in value. Still the boy carried a pressing +invitation from a leading drover to come, and neither slacking rein nor +looking back, he was soon swallowed up in the heat-waves over the plain. + +Sargent and Dell sought the shelter of the awning. "Well," said the +latter, "that trip's a wild-goose chase. How he expects to buy cattle +without money gets me." + +"It may be easier than it seems," answered Sargent. "You secured a start +in cattle last summer without money. Suppose you save a thousand head +out of the cripples this year, what have they cost you?" + +"That's different," protested Dell. "Dodge City is a market where +buyers and sellers meet." + +"True enough. And behind that are unseen conditions. The boom of two +years ago in land and live stock bankrupted many people in Texas. Cattle +companies were organized on the very summit of that craze. Then came the +slump. Last year cattle had fallen in price nearly forty per cent. This +year there is a further falling. I'm giving you Texas conditions. Half +the herds at Dodge to-day are being handled by the receivers of cattle +companies or by trustees for banks. That accounts for the big drive. +Then this drouth came on, and the offerings at Dodge are unfit for any +purpose, except to restock ranches. And those northern ranchmen know it. +They'll buy the cattle at their own price and pay for them when they get +good and ready." + +Dell was contending for his view. "Do you claim that a northern cowman +can buy cattle from a Texas drover without money?" + +"Certainly. When one sheep jumps off the cliff and breaks his neck, all +the rest jump off and break their necks. When money is pouring into +cattle, as it was two years ago, range cattle were as good as gold. Now, +when all that investment is trying to withdraw from cattle, they become +a drag on the market. The Simple Simons ain't all dead yet. Joel will +buy cattle." + +"He may, but I don't see how." + +"Buy them just as any other wide-awake cowman. You brothers are known in +Dodge. This water that you have given the drovers, during the drouth, +has made you friends. Mr. Lovell's word, in your behalf, is as good as +money in the bank. Joel will come back with cattle. My only fear is, he +won't strain his credit." + +"Credit! Who would credit us?" + +"Why not? There are not so many drovers at Dodge who had your showing at +the same age. They have fought their way up and know who to credit. Your +range and ability to hold cattle are your best assets. We must shape up +the ranch, because Joel will come in with cattle." + +"You're the foreman," said Dell assentingly. "And what's more, if Joel +comes home with cattle, I'll hit the ground with my hat and shout as +loud as any of you." + +"That's the talk. I'm playing Joel to come back winner. Let's saddle up +horses, and ride through the cripples this afternoon. I want to get the +lay of the range, and the water, and a line on the cattle." + +Joel overtook Bob Quirk midway between the Prairie Dog and the +railroad. The outfit was drifting south at the rate of forty miles a +day, traveling early and late to avoid the heat. On sighting the lone +horseman in the rear, signals were exchanged, and the foreman halted +until Joel overtook the travelers. + +"This is the back track," said Quirk, "and we're expected to crowd three +days into one. I don't know what the old man wants with you, but I had a +wire to pick you up." + +"Mr. Lovell has been urging me to stock our range--to buy more cattle," +admitted Joel. + +"That's what I thought. He's buying right and left. We're on our way now +to receive cattle. That's it; the old man has a bunch of cattle in +sight for you." + +"Possibly. But what's worrying me is, how am I to buy them--if it takes +any money!" dejectedly admitted the husky boy. + +"Is that fretting you?" lightly inquired Quirk. "Let the old man do the +worrying--that's his long suit. You can rest easy that he has everything +all figured out. It might keep you and I guessing, but it's as clear as +mud to that old man. We'll make Dodge in four days." + +The ravages of the drouth were disheartening. A few hours after sunrise, +a white haze settled over the dull, dead plain, the heat-waves rolled +up to the cavalcade like a burning prairie, sweat and dust crusted over +the horses under saddle, without variation of pace or course. Only three +herds were met, feeling their way through the mirages, or loitering +along the waters. Traveling by night was preferable, and timing the +route into camps and marches, the cottonwood on the Arkansas River was +sighted in advance of the schedule. + +The outfit halted on a creek north of town. Cattle under herd had been +sighted by the thousands, and before the camp was made snug, a +conveyance drove up and Forrest and Don Lovell alighted. + +"Well, Bob, you're a little ahead of time," said the latter, amid +general greetings, "but I'm glad of it. I've closed trades on enough +cattle to make up a herd, and the sellers are hurrying me to receive +them. Pick up a full outfit of men to-night, and we'll receive to-morrow +afternoon. Quince took the train at Cheyenne, but his outfit ought to +reach here in a day or so. I've laid my tape on this market, and have +all the cattle in sight that I want. Several deals are pending, awaiting +the arrival of this boy. Come to town to-night. I'll take Joel under my +wing right now." + +Three horses were caught, Joel riding one and leading two, and the +vehicle started. It was still early in the afternoon, and following down +the creek, within an hour the party reached a trail wagon encamped. A +number of men were about, including a foreman; and at the request of Mr. +Lovell to look over their cattle and horses again the camp took on an +air of activity. A small remuda was corralled within ropes, running from +choice to common horses, all of which were looked over carefully by the +trio, including the wagon team. A number of horses were under saddle, +and led by the foreman, a quartette of men started in advance to +bunch the herd. + +Leaving Forrest at the camp, Mr. Lovell and Joel took the rig and +leisurely followed the departing horsemen. "This is one of the best +herds on the market," said the old drover to the boy, "and I've kept the +deal pending, to see if you and I couldn't buy it together. It runs full +thirty-five hundred cattle, twelve hundred threes and the remainder +twos. I always buy straight two-year-olds for my beef ranch, because I +double-winter all my steer cattle--it takes two winters in the north to +finish these Texas steers right. Now, if you can handle the threes, the +remnant of twos, and the saddle stock, we'll buy the herd, lock, stock, +and barrel. The threes will all ship out as four-year-old beeves next +fall, and you can double-winter the younger cattle. I can use two +thousand of the two-year-olds, and if you care for the others, after we +look them over, leave me to close the trade." + +"Mr. Lovell, it has never been clear to me how I am to buy cattle +without money," earnestly said Joel. + +"Leave that to me--I have that all figured out. If we buy this herd +together, you can ship out two thousand beef cattle next fall, and a +ranch that has that many beeves to market a year hence, can buy, with or +without money, any herd at Dodge to-day. If you like the cattle and want +them, leave it all to me." + +"But so many horses--We have forty horses already," protested Joel. + +"A wide-awake cowman, in this upper country, always buys these southern +horses a year in advance of when he needs them. Next year you'll be +running a shipping outfit, mounting a dozen men, sending others on fall +round-ups, and if you buy your horses now, you'll have them in the pink +of condition then. It's a small remuda, a few under sixty horses, as +fifty head were detailed out here to strengthen remudas that had to go +to the Yellowstone. This foreman will tell you that he topped out +twenty-five of the choice horses before the other trail bosses were +allowed to pick. As the remuda stands, its make-up is tops and tailings. +A year hence one will be as good as the other. You'll need the horses, +and by buying down to the blanket, turning the owner foot-loose and +free, it will help me to close the trade, in our mutual interest." + +The cattle were some two miles distant, under close herd, and by quietly +edging them in onto a few hundred acres, they could be easily looked +over from the conveyance. On the arrival of the prospective buyers, the +foreman had the cattle sufficiently compact, and the old man and the boy +drove back and forth through the herd for fully an hour. They were +thrifty, western Texas steers, had missed the drouth by coming into the +trail at Camp Supply, and were all that could be desired in range +cattle. The two agreed on the quality of the herd, and on driving out +from among the cattle, the foreman was signaled up. + +"One of my outfits arrived from the Platte this afternoon," said Mr. +Lovell, "and we'll receive to-morrow. That leaves me free to pick up +another herd. If Dud would try his best, he would come very near selling +me these cattle. I've got a buyer in sight for the threes and remnant of +twos, and if you price the horses right, we might leave you afoot. If +you see Dudley before I do, tell him I looked over his cattle again." + +"I'll see him to-night," said the foreman, calling after the vehicle. + +Forrest was picked up, and they returned to town. The fame of wicked +Dodge never interfered with the transaction of business, its iniquity +catering largely to the rabble. + +"I'll take Joel with me," said the drover to Forrest, "and you look +after the horses and hang around the hotel. Dud Stoddard is almost sure +to look me up, and if you meet him, admit that we looked over his cattle +again. I want him to hound me into buying that herd." + +Joel's taciturn manner stood him in good stead. He was alert to all that +was passing and, except with Mr. Lovell, was reticent in the extreme. +The two strolled about the streets during the evening hours, and on +returning to the hotel rather late, Dudley Stoddard was awaiting the old +drover. There was no prelude to the matter at issue, and after arranging +with other sellers to receive the following day, Mr. Lovell led the way +to his room. + +"This is one of the Wells Brothers," said the old cowman, presenting +Joel; "one of the boys who watered the drive on the Beaver this summer. +I was up on his ranch about a month ago, and gave him a good scolding +for not stocking his range somewhere near its carrying capacity. He's +the buyer I had in view for your three-year-olds. You offered me the +herd, on time, and at satisfactory prices. I can use two thousand of the +twos, and Wells Brothers will take the remainder, and we'll turn you +afoot. Say so, and your herd is sold." + +"Well," said Mr. Stoddard, somewhat embarrassed, "I don't happen to know +the Wells Brothers--and I usually know men when I extend them a credit. +This boy--Well, I'm not in the habit of dealing with boys." + +"You and I were boys once and had to make our start," testily replied +Mr. Lovell, pacing the room. "The Wells Brothers are making the fight +that you and I were making twenty years ago. In our early struggles, had +some one stood behind us, merely stood behind us, it might have been +different with us to-day. And now when I don't need no help--Dud, it +don't cost much to help others. These boys have proven themselves white, +to yours and to my men and to yours and to my cattle. Is there nothing +we can do?" + +Mr. Stoddard turned to the old drover. "I'll renew my last offer to you. +Take the herd and sell these boys the older cattle and remnants. You +know the brothers--you know their resources." + +"No!" came the answer like a rifle-shot. + +"Then, will you stand sponsor--will you go their security?" + +"No! These boys can't send home for money nor can't borrow any. Their +only asset is their ability to hold and mature cattle. Last winter, the +most severe one in the history of the West, they lost two per cent of +their holdings. Neither you nor I can make as good a showing on any of +our ranges. Dud, what I'm trying to do is to throw on this boy's +shoulders the _responsibility_ of _paying_ for _any cattle he buys_. At +his age it would be wrong to rob him of that important lesson. Let's you +and I stand behind him, and let's see to it that he makes the right +effort to protect his credit." + +"That's different," admitted Mr. Stoddard. "Don, if you'll suggest the +means to that end, I'll try and meet you halfway." + +Mr. Lovell took a seat at the table and picked up a blank sheet of +paper. "As mutual friends," said he, "let me draw up, from seller to +buyer, an iron-clad bill of sale. Its first clause will be a vendor's +lien for the cost of the cattle, horses, etc. Its second will be the +appointment of a commission house, who will act as agent, hold this +contract, and receive the beeves when ready for shipment to market. Its +third clause will be your right, as creditor in a sale of chattel, to +place a man of your own selection on Wells Brothers' ranch, under their +pay and subject to their orders. As your representative, the privilege +is granted of making a daily, weekly, or monthly report to you of the +condition of the cattle and the general outlook of the buyers to meet +this, their covenant with the seller, before November 1, 1887. + +"I wouldn't enter into such a contract with you," continued Mr. Lovell, +throwing down the sheet of paper, "but I want this boy to learn the +value of a well-protected credit. At his time of life, it's an asset. +I'll pay for my half when it's convenient, but I want him to meet his +first obligation on or before the day of maturity. I can speak for the +boy's willingness to make such a contract. What do you say?" + +"Delivery here or elsewhere?" inquired Mr. Stoddard. + +"My half here, within three days, the remainder on the Beaver, a seven +days' drive. It won't cost you a cent more to send your outfit home from +Grinnell than from Dodge. Ten days will end all your trouble. What +do you say?" + +"Don, let me talk the matter over with you privately," said Mr. +Stoddard, arising. "The boy will excuse us. We'll give him a +square deal." + +The two old men left the room. Forrest arose from a couch and threw his +arms around Joel. "It's a sale!" he whispered. "The cattle's yours! That +old man of mine will ride Dud Stoddard all around the big corral and +spur him in the flank at every jump, unless he comes to those terms. An +iron-clad bill of sale is its own surety. You'll need the man, anyhow. I +want to give the long yell." + +Mr. Lovell returned after midnight, and alone. Forrest and Joel arose to +meet him, inquiry and concern in every look and action. + +"Take Joel and get out of here," said the old drover, whose twinkling +eyes could not conceal the gloating within. "I've got to draw up that +bill of sale. Just as if those steers wouldn't pay for themselves next +fall. Get to bed, you rascals!" + +"Would there be any harm if I went down to the bank of the river and +gave the long yell?" inquired Forrest, as he halted in the doorway. + +"Get to bed," urged the old drover. "I'll want you in the morning. We'll +close a trade, the first thing, on fifteen hundred of those Womack +twos. That'll give you a herd, and you can keep an eye over Joel's +cattle until the Beaver's reached." + +During the few days which followed, Joel Wells was thrown in contact +with the many features of a range cattle market. In all the migrations +of mankind, strictly cattle towns like Dodge City and Ogalalla are +unknown. They were the product of all pastoral ages, reaching a climax +on American soil, and not of record in any other country or time. Joel +let little escape him. Here men bought and sold by the thousand head, in +his day and generation, and he was a part of that epoch. + +The necessary number of cattle to complete a herd for Forrest were +purchased without leaving town. The afternoon was spent in receiving a +herd, in which the veteran drover took a hand, assisted by two competent +foremen. Every feature in the cattle, the why and wherefore, was pointed +out by the trio, to the eager, earnest boy, so that the lesson sunk into +Joel's every fibre. The beauty of the first herd received was in the +uniform average of each animal, when ages, class, and build governed +selection. + +Forrest's outfit arrived that evening, and without even a day's rest +arrangements were made to receive the two contingents the next morning. +When it came to receive the Stoddard herd, the deftness with which the +two outfits classified the cattle was only short of marvelous. The +threes were cut out, and each age counted. The over-plus of the younger +cattle were cut back, and the contingents were tendered on delivery. The +papers were ready, executed on the ground, and the herds started, the +smaller in the lead. + +The drive to the Beaver was without incident. Forrest spent most of his +time with the little herd, which used only eight men, counting Joel, who +stood guard at night and made a hand. The herd numbered a few over +fifteen hundred cattle, the remuda fifty-six horses, a team and wagon, +the total contract price of which was a trifle under twenty-five +thousand dollars. It looked like a serious obligation for two boys to +assume, but practical men had sanctioned it, and it remained for the +ability of Wells Brothers to meet it. + +On nearing the Beaver, the lead herd under Bob Quirk took the new trail, +which crossed at the ranch. On their leaving the valley, a remark was +dropped, unnoticed by Dell, but significant to Jack Sargent. It resulted +in the two riding out on the trail, only to meet the purchased cattle, +Joel on one point and Forrest on the other, directing the herds to the +tanks below. The action bespoke its intent, and on meeting Forrest, the +latter jerked his thumb over his shoulder, remarking, "Drop back and +pilot the wagon and remuda into the ranch. We're taking this passel of +cattle into the new tanks, and will scatter them up and down the creek. +Lovell's cattle? No. Old man Joel Wells bought these to stock his ranch. +See how chesty it makes him--he won't even look this way. You boys may +have to sit up with him a few nights at first, but he'll get over that. +Pilot in the remuda. You two are slated to take this outfit to the +railroad to-night. Trail along, my beauties; Wells Brothers are shaking +out a right smart bit of sail these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"THE WAGON" + + +The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the appointed +time. If the brothers could meet their first commercial obligation, it +would establish their standing, and to that end every energy must be +directed. They were extremely fortunate in the advice and help of two +young men bred to the occupation, and whose every interest lay in making +a success of the ranch. + +The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything was +abandoned but their saddles--_burning the wagon_--while Joe Manly, one +of their number, remained behind. Manly was not even the foreman, and on +taking his departure the trail boss, in the presence of all, said to his +man, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to this ranch and make a useful hand. +Drop old man Dudley a line whenever you have a chance. It's quite a +little ride to the station, and we'll understand that no news is good +news. And once you see that these cattle are going to winter safely, +better raise the long yell and come home. You can drift back in the +fall--during the beef-shipping season. I may write you when next +summer's plans begin to unfold." + +Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of the +South, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had watered +during the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving its foreman on +the Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, paving the way in +detail, up to the manner of holding the cattle during the coming winter. +With numbers exceeding three thousand, close herd and corralling at +night was impossible, and the riding of lines, with an extra camp, +admitting of the widest freedom, was decided on as the most feasible +method. The new camp must be located well above Hackberry Grove, and to +provision it for man and horse was one of the many details outlined in +meeting the coming winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and having +held cattle by one system, he fully understood the necessity of adopting +some other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there was +danger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was simple +and easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault from +drifting cattle. + +Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next morning, he +turned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may be the last time +I'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is talk of the trail +moving west. On account of fever, this State threatens to quarantine +against Texas cattle. If it does, the trail will have to move over into +Colorado or hunt a new route through unorganized counties on the western +line of Kansas. In event of quarantine being enforced, it means a bigger +range for Wells Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year in +cattle, just getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a big +future for you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet, +toddling around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold these +cattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't matter +if I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank account, be living +on the sunny side of the creek, and as long as you stick to cows, +through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse you." + +The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and Manly +busied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and Sargent +accompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that evening, and it +proved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for that summer. + +The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was narrowed +to a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle watering at +the beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, including all +horses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty head, was moved up +to Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The wintered horses furnished +ample saddle mounts for the present, there being little to do, as the +water held the new cattle and no herding was required. The heat of +summer was over, the water held in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranch +settled down in pastoral security. + +Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of forage must +be provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to the man was the +lowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery was available on the +railroad, and taking a team, Joel returned with a new mowing machine, +and the matter of providing abundant forage was easily met. Sufficient +hay, from a few bends of the creek, in dead-line territory, supplied the +home ranch, and a week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the site +of the new line-camp equipped with winter forage. + +While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced on Wells +Brothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to any pastoral +occupation, and hence _the wagon_ becomes a cowman's home and castle. +From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, welcomes the wayfarer, and +exchanges the chronicle of the range. The wagon, which had been acquired +with the new herd and used on the above occasion, was well equipped with +canvas cover, water barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. The +latter was fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as a +kitchen. When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, it +protected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus becomes +home to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the other. Saddle +horses, when frightened at night, will rush to the safety of a camp-fire +and the protection of their masters, and therefore a closer bond exists +between the men of the open and their mounts than under more refined +surroundings. + +Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down the +Beaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of running water. +It was followed by early frosts, lifting the dead-line and ushering in +Indian summer. With forage secure, attention was turned to the cattle. +The purchase of a mowing machine had exhausted the funds derived from +the sale of peltry, and a shipment of cattle was decided on to provide +the munitions for the coming winter. The wagon was accordingly +provisioned for a week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and the +quartette moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not been +handled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown into a +compact herd, they presented a different appearance from the spiritless +cattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid as fawns, shied +from the horsemen, their mothers lowed in comforting concern, the beeves +waddled about from carrying their own flesh, while the patriarchs of the +herd bellowed in sullen defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cut +out from the ---- Y brand, flesh governing the selection, and the first +shipment of cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets. + +Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the railroad. +Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the remuda, the two +others grazing the beeves, while each took his turn in standing guard at +night. Water was plentiful, cars were in waiting, and on reaching the +railroad, the cattle were corralled in the shipping pens. + +Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The beeves were +consigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as factor in +marketing and settlement of the herd which had recently passed from the +possession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells Brothers. The two cars of +cattle found a ready sale, the weights revealing a surprise, attracting +the attention of packers and salesmen to the quality of beef from the +Beaver valley. + +"Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a salesman to a +packer, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the weighing scale. "You +and I needn't worry about the question of range--the buffalo knew. Catch +the weights of these cattle and compare it with range beef from the +sedge-grass and mountain country. Tallow tells its own story--the +buffalo knew the best range." + +An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a mutual +basis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, detained Joel +and Manly in his private office for an hour. + +"This market is alert to every new section having cattle to ship," said +the old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The Solomon River +country sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is the first shipment +from the Beaver. Our salesman reports your consignment the fattest +range beeves on to-day's market. And these weights confirm the +statement. I don't understand it. What kind of a country have you +out there?" + +Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered the +latter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by the +thousand. It's a big country; it just swells, and dips, and rolls away." + +It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. "The +grasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native grasses?" + +"Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of course, +here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a little blue-stem, +enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. The cattle won't +touch it." + +The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, of which +the commission firm was the intermediary factor. The details were gone +over carefully, the outlook for next year's shipments reviewed, and on +taking their leave, the old man said to his guests:-- + +"Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters from both +Mr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over the situation, +with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and satisfactory. Next +year's shipments will take care of the contract. Keep in touch with us, +and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship your cattle in finished +condition, and they'll make a market for themselves. We'll expect you +early next summer." + +"Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle," +modestly admitted Joel. + +"They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your single-wintered +beeves," said the old man, from his practical knowledge in maturing +beef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has your account all ready." + +Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a moment. The +beeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and except for current +expenses, the funds were left on deposit with the commission house, as +there were no banks near home; the account was subject to draft, and +accepting a small advance in currency, the boys departed. A brief hour's +shopping was indulged in, the principal purchases being two long-range +rifles, cartridges and poison in abundance, when they hastened to the +depot and caught a west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell, +and at evening the next day the two rode into headquarters on +the Beaver. + +Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the first +shipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an air of +independence indicated the turn in the swing of the pendulum. Practical +men, in every avenue of the occupation, had lent their indorsement to +the venture of the brothers, the mettle of the pasture had been tested +in the markets, and the future, with reasonable vigilance, rested on +sure foundations. + +The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think Uncle Dud +would let me come home," said Manly to the others, at supper. "There's +no occasion for my staying here this winter. Besides, I'm a tender +plant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of thunder. Wouldn't I like +to get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, 'Come home, my little white +chicken, come home!'" + +"You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use four +line-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make a +trusty one!" + +"That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now listen to the +foreman's orders: The next thing is to brand every hoof up to date. +Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building of a new dug-out and +stabling for four horses. And lastly, freight in plenty of corn. After +that, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's our own fault. No excuse will +pass muster. Hold these cattle? It's a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear, +make yourself a useful guest for the winter." + +A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their mothers were +brought down to the home corral and branded in a single day. The +Stoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were exempt, the Lazy H +ranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. Only cripple, fagged, and +stray cattle were branded, the latter numbering less than a hundred +head, and were run into the Hospital brand, while the remainder bore +the--Y of the ranch. The work was completed within a week, Dell making a +hand which proved his nerve, either in the saddle or branding pen. + +The first week in October was devoted to building the new dug-out and +stable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and tool on the +ranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as well as the +remuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as if it were a +frolic. The site had been decided on during the haying, and on reaching +the scene, the tent was set up, and the building of a shelter for man +and horse was begun. + +The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and the +remainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt break or +low bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot cellar walls on +three sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod walls and containing +the door. The sod was broken by a team and plough, cut into lengths like +brick, and the outside walls raised to the desired height. For roofing, +a heavy ridge-pole was cut the length of the room, resting on stout +upright posts. Lighter poles were split and laid compactly, like +rafters, sheeted with hay, and covered with loose dirt to the depth of a +foot. The floor was earthen; a half window east and west, supplemented +by a door in the south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortable +shelter. A roomy stable was built on the same principle and from the +same material. + +The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, when the +quartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway house at Land's +End," said Manly, turning for a last look at the new improvements. "What +are you going to call the new tepee?" + +"Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell having +accepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and let the +latch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you must bring your +knitting and come over." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OPEN WINTER + + +An ideal Indian summer was enjoyed. Between the early and late fall +frosts, the range matured into perfect winter pasturage. Light rains in +September freshened the buffalo grass until it greened on the sunny +slopes, cured into hay as the fall advanced, thus assuring abundant +forage to the cattle. + +Manly was the only one of the quartette not inured to a northern +climate. A winter in Montana had made Sargent proof against any cold, +while the brothers were native to that latitude if not to the plains. +After building the line-camp and long before occupying it, the quartette +paired off, Sargent and Dell claiming the new dug-out, while the other +two were perfectly content with the old shack at headquarters. A healthy +spirit of rivalry sprang up, extending from a division of the horses +down to a fair assignment of the blankets. + +Preparations for and a constant reference to the coming winter aroused a +dread in Manly. "You remind me of our darky cook," said Sargent, "up on +the Yellowstone a few years ago. Half the trail outfit were detailed +until frost, to avoid fever and to locate the cattle, and of course the +cook had to stay. A squall of snow caught us in camp, and that poor +darky just pined away. 'Boss,' he used to say to the foreman, shivering +over the fire, 'ah's got to go home. Ah's subjec' to de rheumatics. Mah +fambly's a-gwine to be pow'ful uneasy 'bout me. Dis-a-yere country am no +place fo' a po' ol' niggah.'" + +Two teams were employed in freighting in the corn, four round trips +being required, Joel and Manly assuming the work. Supplies for the +winter were brought in at the same time, among the first of which were +four sacks of salt; and the curing of two barrels of corned beef fell a +pleasant task to Dell and his partner. There was nothing new in pickling +the meat, and with the exception of felling the beeves, the incident +passed as part of the day's work. Dell claimed the privilege of making +the shots, which Sargent granted, but exercised sufficient caution to +corral the beeves. Both fell in their tracks, and the novice gained +confidence in his skill in the use of a rifle. + +The first of December was agreed on to begin the riding of lines. That +date found all the new cattle drifted above headquarters, and as it was +some ten miles to the upper line-camp, an extremely liberal range was +allowed the herd. Eight of the best wintered horses were stabled, and at +first the line was maintained on the south bank of the Beaver. An outer +line was agreed upon, five miles to the south; but until the season +forced the cattle to the shelter of the valley, the inner one was kept +under patrol. The outer was a purely imaginary line, extending in an +immense half-circle, from headquarters to the new line-camp above. It +followed the highest ground, and marked the utmost limit on the winter +range on the south. Any sign or trace of cattle crossing it, drifting +before a storm or grazing at leisure, must be turned back or +trailed down. + +The first and second weeks passed, the weather continuing fine. Many of +the cattle ranged two and three miles north of the creek, not even +coming in to water oftener than every other day. Several times the +horsemen circled to the north; but as ranging wide was an advantage, the +cattle were never disturbed. A light fall of soft snow even failed to +bring the cattle into the valley. + +Christmas week was ushered in with a display of animal instinct. The +through and wintered cattle had mixed and mingled, the latter fat and +furred, forging to the front in ranging northward, and instinctively +leading their brethren to shelter in advance of the first storm. Between +the morning and evening patrol of a perfect day, the herd, of its own +accord, drifted into the valley, the leaders rioting in a wild frolic. +Their appearance hastened the patrol of the inner line by an hour, every +nook and shelter, including the old corral, being filled with frolicsome +cattle. The calves were engaging each other in mimic fights, while the +older cattle were scarring every exposed bank, or matting their +foreheads in clay and soft dirt. + +"What does it mean?" inquired Joel, hailing Sargent, when the +line-riders met. + +"It means that we'll ride the outside line in the morning," came the +reply. "There's a storm coming within twelve hours. At least, the +herd say so." + +"What can we do?" + +"Leave that to the cattle. They'll not quit the valley unless driven out +by a storm. The instinct that teaches them of the coming storm also +teaches them how to meet it. They'll bed in the blue-stem to-night, or +hunt a cosy nook under some cut-bank." + +A meeting point on the outer line, for the next morning, was agreed +upon, when the horsemen separated for the evening. "Get out early, and +keep your eyes open for any trace of cattle crossing the line," Sargent +called back, as he reined homeward. "Dell and I will leave The Wagon at +daybreak." + +The storm struck between midnight and morning. Dawn revealed an angry +horizon, accompanied by a raw, blue-cold, cutting wind from the north. +On leaving their quarters, both patrols caught the storm on an angle, +edging in to follow the circle, their mounts snorting defiance and +warming to the work in resisting the bitter morning. The light advanced +slowly, a sifting frost filled the air, obscuring the valley, and not +until the slope to the south was reached was the situation known. + +No cattle were in sight or adrift. Within an hour after leaving the +line-camp, the experienced eye of Sargent detected a scattering trace +where an unknown number of cattle had crossed the line. Both he and Dell +dismounted, and after studying the trail, its approach and departure, +the range-bred man was able to give a perfect summary of the situation. + +"There's between fifty and a hundred head in this drift," remarked +Sargent, as the two remounted. "They're through cattle; the storm must +have caught them on the divide, north of the Beaver. They struck the +creek in the flats and were driven out of the valley. The trail's not +over two hours old. Ride the line until you meet the other boys, and +I'll trail down these cattle. The sand dunes ought to catch them." + +Dell and Sargent separated. Five miles to the eastward Joel was met. +Manly was reported at the rear, the two having intercepted a contingent +of cattle approaching the line, and was then drifting the stragglers +back to the valley. On Dell's report, the brothers turned to the +assistance of Sargent, retracing the western line, and finally bearing +off for the sand hills. Several times the sun threatened to break +through, lighting the valley, but without revealing any stir among the +cattle in the shelter of the creek. In the short time since leaving +their stables, the horses under saddle had whitened from the action of +the frost on their sweaty coats, unheeded by their riders. There was no +checking of mounts until the range of dunes was reached, when from the +summit of a sand hill the stragglers were located in care of Sargent, +and on the homeward drift. The cattle were so benumbed and bewildered +from the cold that they had marched through the shelter of the dunes, +and were overtaken adrift on the wind-swept plain. + +The contingent numbered sixty-odd cattle, and with the help of the +brothers were easily handled. Before recrossing the line, the sun burst +forth, and on reaching the slope, the trio halted in parting. "A few +hours of this sun," said Sargent, "and we've got the upper hand of this +storm. The wind or sun must yield. If the wind lulls, we'll ride the +inner line to-night and bed every hoof in the shelter of the creek. Pick +up Manly, and we'll ride the valley line about the middle of the +afternoon." + +Joel turned homeward, scouting that portion of the line under patrol +from headquarters. The drifting contingent was intrusted to Dell, +leaving Sargent to retrace their division of the line, and before noon +all had reached their quarters. From twenty to thirty miles had been +covered that morning, in riding the line and recovering the lost, and at +the agreed time, the relay horses were under saddle for the afternoon +task. The sun had held sway, the wind had fallen, and as they followed +up the valley, they encountered the cattle in large bunches, grazing to +every quarter of the compass. They were not molested on the outward +ride, but on the return trip, near evening, they were all turned back to +the sheltering nooks and coves which the bends of the Beaver afforded. A +crimpy night followed, but an early patrol in the morning found the +cattle snug in the dry, rank grasses which grew in the first bottoms of +the creek. + +The first storm had been weathered. The third day, of their own accord, +the cattle left the valley and grazed out on the northern divide. The +line-riders relaxed their vigil, and in preparation for observing the +Natal day, each camp put forth its best hunter to secure a venison. The +absence of snow, during the storm, had held the antelope tributary to +the Beaver, and locating game was an easy matter. To provide the roast, +the spirit of rivalry was accented anew, and each camp fervently hoped +for its own success. + +A venison hung at headquarters before noon, Manly making a running shot +at the leader of a band, which was surprised out of a morning siesta +near the old trail crossing. If a quarry could only be found in the sand +hills, a natural shelter for antelope, Sargent had flattered Dell into +believing that his aim was equal to the occasion. The broken nature of +the dune country admitted of stealthy approach, and its nearness to the +upper camp recommended it as an inviting hunting ground. The +disappointment of the first effort, due to moderated weather, was in +finding the quarry far afield. A dozen bands were sighted from the +protection of the sand hills, a mile out on the flat plain, but without +shelter to screen a hunter. Sargent was equal to the occasion, and +selecting a quarry, the two horses were unsaddled, the bridle reins +lengthened by adding ropes, and crouching low, their mounts afforded the +necessary screen as they grazed or were driven forward. By tacking right +and left in a zigzag course they gained the wind, and a stealthy +approach on the band was begun. The stabled horses grazed ravenously, +sometimes together, then apart, affording a perfect screen for stalking. + +After a seeming age to Dell, the required rifle range was reached, when +the cronies flattened themselves in the short grass and allowed the +horses to graze to their rope's end. Sargent indicated a sentinel buck, +presenting the best shot; and using his elbow for a rest, the rifle was +laid in the hollow of Dell's upraised hand and drawn firmly to his +shoulder, and a prompt report followed. The shot went wild, throwing up +a flash of dust before the band, which instantly whirled. The horses +merely threw up their heads in surprise, attracting the startled quarry, +which ran up within fifty yards of the repeating rifle. In the +excitement of the moment instantly following the first shot, Dell had +arisen to his knee, unmindful of the necessity of throwing another +cartridge into the rifle barrel. "Shoot! Shoot!" whispered Sargent, as +the band excitedly halted within pistol range. Dell fingered the trigger +in vain. "Throw in a cartridge!" breathlessly suggested Sargent. The +lever clicked, followed by a shot, which tore up the sod within a few +feet of the muzzle of the rifle! + +The antelope were away in a flash. Sargent rolled on the grass, laughing +until the tears trickled down his cheeks, while Dell's chagrin left him +standing like a simpleton. + +"I don't believe this gun shoots true," he ventured at last, too +mortified to realize the weakness of his excuse. "Besides, it's too easy +on the trigger." + +"No rifle shoots true during buck ague season," answered Sargent, not +daring to raise his eyes. "When the grass comes next spring, those scars +in the sod will grow over. Lucky that neither horse was killed. Honest, +I'll never breathe it! Not for worlds!" + +Sargent's irony was wasted. Dell, in a dazed way, recovered his horse, +mounted, and aimlessly followed his bunkie. On reaching their saddles, +the mental fog lifted, and as if awakening from a pleasant dream, the +boy dismounted. "Did I have it?--the buck ague?" he earnestly inquired. + +"You had symptoms of it," answered Sargent, resaddling his horse. +"Whenever a hunter tries to shoot an empty gun, or discharges one into +the ground at his feet, he ought to take something for his nerves. It's +not fatal, and I have hopes of your recovery." + +The two turned homeward. Several times Sargent gave vent to a peal of +laughter that rang out like a rifle report, but Dell failed to +appreciate the humor of the situation. + +"Well," said the older one, as they dismounted at the stable, "if we +have to fall back on corn beef for our Christmas dinner, I can grace it +with a timely story. And if we have a saddle of venison, it will fit the +occasion just as well." + +The inner line was ridden at evening. The cattle were caring for +themselves; but on meeting the lads from headquarters, an unusual amount +of banter and repartee was exchanged. + +"Killed an antelope two days before you needed it," remarked Sargent +scathingly. "Well, well! You fellows certainly haven't much confidence +in your skill as hunters." + +"Venison improves with age," loftily observed Manly. + +"That's a poor excuse. At best, antelope venison is dry meat. We located +a band or two to-day, and if Dell don't care for the shot, I'll go out +in the morning and bring in a fat yearling." + +"Is that your prospect for a Christmas roast?" inquired Manly with +refined sarcasm. "Dell, better air your Sunday shirt to-morrow and come +down to headquarters for your Christmas dinner. We're going to have +quite a spread." + +Dell threw a glance at Sargent. "Come on," said the latter with polished +contempt, reining his horse homeward. "Just as if we lived on beans at +The Wagon! Just as if our porcelain-lined graniteware wasn't as good as +their tin plates! Catch us accepting! Come on!" + +Sargent was equal to his boast. He returned the next day before noon, a +young doe lashed to his saddle cantle, and preparations were made for an +extensive dinner. The practical range man is usually a competent cook, +and from the stores of the winter camp a number of extra dishes were +planned. In the way of a roast, on the plains, a saddle of venison was +the possible extreme, and the occupants of the line-camp possessed a +ruddy health which promised appetites to grace the occasion. + +Christmas day dawned under ideal conditions. Soft winds swayed the dead +weeds and leafless shrubs, the water trickled down the creek from pool +to pool, reminding one of a lazy, spring day, with droning bees and +flights of birds afield. Sargent rode the morning patrol alone, meeting +Joel at the halfway point, when the two dismounted, whiling away several +hours in considering future plans of the ranch. + +It was high noon when the two returned to their respective quarters. +Dell had volunteered to supervise the roasting of the venison, and on +his crony's return, the two sat down to their Christmas dinner. What the +repast lacked in linen and garnishment, it made up in stability, graced +by a cheerfulness and contentment which made its partakers at peace with +the world. Sargent was almost as resourceful in travel and story as +Quince Forrest, and never at a loss for the fitting incident to grace +any occasion. + +Dell was a good listener. Any story, even at his own expense, was +enjoyed. "Whether we had corn beef or venison," said he to Sargent, "you +promised to tell a story at dinner to-day." + +"The one that you reminded me of when you shot the rifle into the ground +at your feet and scared the antelope away? No offense if I have to +laugh; you looked like a simpleton." + +"Tell your story; I'm young, I'll learn," urged Dell. + +"You may learn to handle a gun, and make the same mistake again, but in +a new way. It's live and learn. This man was old enough to be your +father, but he looked just as witless as you did." + +"Let's have the story," impatiently urged the boy. + +"It happened on a camp hunt. Wild turkeys are very plentiful in certain +sections of Texas, and one winter a number of us planned a week's +shooting. In the party was a big, raw-boned ex-sheriff, known as one of +the most fearless officers in the state. In size he simply towered above +the rest of us. + +"It was a small party, but we took along a commissary wagon, an +ambulance, saddle horses, and plenty of Mexicans to do the clerking and +coarse handwriting. It was quite a distance to the hunting grounds, and +the first night out, we made a dry camp. A water keg and every jug on +the ranch had been filled for the occasion, and were carried in +the wagon. + +"Before reaching the road camp, the big sheriff promised us a quail +pot-pie for breakfast, and with that intent, during the afternoon, he +killed two dozen partridges. The bird was very plentiful, and instead of +picking them for a pot-pie, skinning such a number was much quicker. In +the hurry and bustle of making the camp snug for the night, every one +was busy, the sheriff in particular, in dressing his bag of quail. On +finishing the task, he asked a Mexican to pour some water, and the horse +wrangler reached into the wagon, at random, and emptied a small jug into +the vessel containing the dressed birds. + +"The big fellow adjourned to the rear and proceeded to wash and drain +his quail. After some little time, he called to the cook: 'Ignacio, I +smell kerosene. Look in the wagon, please, and see if the lantern +isn't leaking.' + +"'In a minute,' answered the cook, busy elsewhere. + +"The sheriff went on washing the quail, and when about halfway through +the task, he halted. 'Ignacio, I smell that kerosene again. See if the +lantern isn't upset, or the oil jug leaking.' + +"'Just in a minute,' came the answer as before. 'My hands are in the +flour.' + +"The big man went on, sniffing the air from time to time, nearly +finishing his task, when he stopped again and pleadingly said: 'Ignacio, +I surely smell kerosene. We're out for a week, and a lantern without oil +puts us in a class with the foolish virgins. Drop your work and see +what the trouble is. There's a leak somewhere.' + +"The cook dusted the flour from his hands, clambered up on the wagon +wheel, lifted the kerosene jug, pulled the stopper, smelt it, shook it, +and lifted it above his head in search of a possible crack. The empty +jug, the absence of any sign of leakage, gradually sifted through his +mind, and he cast an inquiring glance at the big sheriff, just then +finishing his task. Invoking heaven and all the saints to witness, he +gasped, 'Mr. Charlie, you've washed the quail in the kerosene!' + +"The witless, silly expression that came into that big man's face is +only seen once in a lifetime," said Sargent in conclusion. "I've been +fortunate, I've seen it twice; once on the face of a Texas sheriff, and +again, when you shot a hole in the ground with your eye on an antelope. +Whenever I feel blue and want to laugh, I conjure up the scene of a +Mexican, standing on a wagon wheel, holding a jug, and a six-footer in +the background, smelling the fingers of one hand and then the other." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN INDIAN SCARE + + +The year closed with dry, open weather. The cattle scattered wide, +ranging farther afield, unmolested except by shifting winds. The latter +was a matter of hourly observation, affording its lesson to the +brothers, and readily explained by the older and more practical men. For +instance, a north or the dreaded east wind brought the herd into the +valley, where it remained until the weather moderated, and then drifted +out of its own free will. When a balmy south wind blew, the cattle +grazed against it, and when it came from a western quarter, they turned +their backs and the gregarious instinct to flock was noticeable. Under +settled weather, even before dawn, by noting the quarter of the wind, it +was an easy matter to foretell the movement of the herd for the +coming day. + +The daily tasks rested lightly. The line was ridden as usual, but more +as a social event than as a matter of necessity. The occasional reports +of Manly to his employer were flattering in the extreme. Any risk +involved in the existing contract hinged on the present winter, and +since it was all that could be desired, every fine day added to the +advantage of Wells Brothers. So far their venture had been greeted with +fair winds, and with not a cloud in the visible sky. Manly was even +recalled by Mr. Stoddard early in February. + +Month after month passed without incident. Spring came fully a fortnight +earlier than the year before. By the middle of March, the willows were +bent with pollen, the birds returned, and the greening slopes rolled +away and were lost behind low horizons. The line-camp was abandoned, the +cattle were scattered over the entire valley, and the instincts to +garden were given free rein. The building of two additional tanks, one +below the old trail crossing and the other near the new camp above, +occupied a month's time to good advantage. It enlarged the range beyond +present needs; but the brothers were wrestling with a rare opportunity, +and theirs was strictly a policy of expansion. + +An occasional trip to the railroad, for supplies or pressing errand, was +usually rewarded with important news. During the winter just passed, +Kansas had quarantined against Texas cattle, and the trail was barred +from that state. Early in May information reached the ranch that the +market interests of Dodge City had moved over the line into Colorado, +and had established a town on the railroad, to be known as Trail City. A +feasible route lay open to the south, across No-Man's-Land, into the +Texas Panhandle, while scouting parties were out with the intent of +locating a new trail to Ogalalla. It would cross the Republican River +nearly due westward from headquarters, and in the neighborhood of one +hundred miles distant. + +"There you are," said Sargent, studying a railroad folder. "You must +have water for the herds, so the new market will have a river and a +railroad. It simply means that the trail has shifted from the east to +the west of your range. As long as the country is open, you can buy +cattle at Trail City, hold them on the Colorado line until frost, and +cross to your own range with a few days' travel. It may prove an +advantage after all." + +The blessing of sunshine and shower rested on the new ranch. The beaver +ponds filled, the spill-ways of every tank ran like a mill race, and the +question of water for the summer was answered. The cattle early showed +the benefits of the favorable winter, and by June the brands were +readable at a glance. From time to time reports from the outside world +reached the brothers, and among other friendly letters received was an +occasional inquiry from the commission firm, the factors named under the +existing contract. The house kept in touch with the range, was fully +aware of the open winter, and could easily anticipate its effects in +maturing cattle for early shipment. + +The solicitors of the firm, graduates of the range, were sent out a +month in advance of other years. Wells Brothers were advised of a +promised visit by one of the traveling agents of the commission house, +and during the first week in July he arrived at headquarters. He was a +practical man, with little concern for comfort, as long as there were +cattle to look over. Joel took him in tow, mounted him on the pick of +saddle horses, and the two leisurely rode the range. + +"What does he say?" inquired Dell, after a day's ride. + +"Not a word," answered Joel. "He can't talk any more than I can. Put in +all day just looking and thinking. He must like cattle that range wide, +for we rode around every outside bunch. He _can_ talk, because he +admitted we have good horses." + +Again the lesson that contact teaches was accented anew. At parting the +following morning, in summing up the outlook, the solicitor surprised +the brothers. "The situation is clear," said he quietly. "You must ship +early. Your double-wintered beeves will reach their prime this month. +You may ship them any day after the 25th. Your single-wintered ones can +follow in three weeks. The firm may be able to advise you when to ship. +It's only a fourteen-hour run to the yards, and if you work a +beef-shipping outfit that's up to date, you can pick your day to reach +the market. Get your outfit together, keep in touch with the house by +wire, and market your beef in advance of the glut from the +Platte country." + +The solicitor lifted the lines over a livery team. "One moment," said +Joel. "Advise Mr. Stoddard that we rely on him to furnish us two men +during the beef-shipping season." + +"Anything else?" inquired the man, a memorandum-book in hand. + +"Where are the nearest ranches to ours?" + +"On the Republican, both above and below the old trail crossing. There +may be extra men over on the river," said the solicitor, fully +anticipating the query. + +"That's all," said Joel, extending his hand. + +The stranger drove away. The brothers exchanged a puzzled glance, but +Sargent smiled. "That old boy sabes cows some little," said the latter. +"The chances are that he's forgotten more about cattle than some of +these government experts ever knew. Anyway, he reads the sign without +much effort. His survey of this range and the outlook are worth +listening to. Better look up an outfit of men." + +"We'll gather the remuda to-day," announced Joel. "While I'm gone to the +Republican, you boys can trim up and gentle the horses." + +The extra mounts, freed the fall before, had only been located on the +range, and must be gathered and brought in to headquarters at once. They +had ranged in scattering bunches during the winter, and a single day +would be required to gather and corral the ranch remuda. It numbered, +complete, ninety-six horses, all geldings, and the wisdom of buying the +majority a year in advance of their needs reflected the foresight of a +veteran cowman. Many of them were wild, impossible of approach, the call +of the plain and the free life of their mustang ancestors pulsing with +every heart-beat, and several days would be required to bring them under +docile subjection. There were scraggy hoofs to trim, witches' bridles to +disentangle, while long, bushy, matted tails must be thinned to a +graceful sweep. + +The beginning of work acted like a tonic. The boys sallied forth, +mounted on their best horses, their spirits soaring among the clouds. +During the spring rains, several small lakes had formed in the sand +hills, at one of which a band of some thirty saddle horses was watering. +The lagoon was on the extreme upper end of the range, fully fifteen +miles from headquarters; and as all the saddle stock must be brought in, +the day's work required riding a wide circle. Skirting the sand dunes, +by early noon all the horses were in hand, save the band of thirty. +There was no occasion for all hands to assist in bringing in the absent +ones, and a consultation resulted in Joel and Dell volunteering for the +task, while Sargent returned home with the horses already gathered. + +The range of the band was well known, and within a few hours after +parting with Sargent, the missing horses were in hand. The brothers knew +every horse, and, rejoicing in their splendid condition, they started +homeward, driving the loose mounts before them. The most direct course +to headquarters was taken, which would carry the cavalcade past the +springs and the upper winter quarters. The latter was situated in the +brakes of the Beaver, several abrupt turns of the creek, until its near +approach, shutting out a western view of the deserted dug-out. The +cavalcade was drifting home at a gentle trot, but on approaching The +Wagon, a band of ponies was sighted forward and in a bend of the creek. +The boys veered their horses, taking to the western divide, and on +gaining it, saw below them and at the distance of only a quarter-mile, +around the springs, an Indian encampment of a dozen tepees and lean-tos. + +Dell and Joel were struck dumb at the sight. To add to their surprise, +all the dogs in the encampment set up a howling, the Indians came +tumbling from their temporary shelters, many of them running for their +ponies on picket, while an old, almost naked leader signaled to the +brothers. It was a moment of bewilderment with the boys, who conversed +in whispers, never halting on their course, and when the Indians reached +their ponies, every brave dashed up to the encampment. A short parley +followed, during which signaling was maintained by the old Indian, +evidently a chief; but the boys kept edging away, and the old brave +sprang on a pony and started in pursuit, followed by a number of +his band. + +The act was tinder to powder. The boys gave rowel to their mounts, shook +out their ropes, raised the long yell, and started the loose horses in a +mad dash for home. It was ten long miles to headquarters, and their +mounts, already fagged by carrying heavy saddles and the day's work, +were none too fresh, while the Indians rode bareback and were not +encumbered by an ounce of extra clothing. + +The boys led the race by fully five hundred yards. But instead of taking +to the divide, the Indians bore down the valley, pursued and pursuers in +plain sight of each other. For the first mile or so the loose horses +were no handicap, showing clean heels and keeping clear of the whizzing +ropes. But after the first wild dash, the remuda began to scatter, and +the Indians gained on the cavalcade, coming fairly abreast and not over +four hundred yards distant. + +"They're riding to cut us off!" gasped Dell. "They'll cut us off from +headquarters!" + +"Our horses will outwind their ponies," shouted Joel, in reply. "Don't +let these loose horses turn into the valley." + +The divide was more difficult to follow than the creek. The meanderings +of the latter were crossed and recrossed without halting, while the +watershed zigzagged, or was broken and cut by dry washes and coulees, +thus retarding the speed of the cavalcade. The race wore on with varying +advantage, and when near halfway to headquarters, the Indians turned up +the slope as if to verify Dell's forecast. At this juncture, a +half-dozen of the loose horses cut off from the band and turned down the +slope in plain sight of the pursuers. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ROUND-UP OF THE DAY] + +"If it's horses they want, they can have those," shouted Joel. "Climbing +that slope will fag their ponies. Come on; here's where we have the +best of it." + +The Indians were not to be pacified. Without a look they swept past the +abandoned horses. The boys made a clear gain along a level stretch on +the divide, maintaining their first lead, when the pursuers, baffled in +cutting them off, turned again into the valley. + +"It isn't horses they want," ventured Dell, with a backward glance. + +"In the next dip, we'll throw the others down the western slope, and +ride for our lives," answered Joel, convinced that a sacrifice of horses +would not appease their pursuers. + +The opportunity came shortly, when for a few minutes the brothers dipped +from sight of the Indians. The act confused the latter, who scaled the +divide, only to find the objects of their chase a full half-mile in the +lead, but calling on the last reserve in their fagged horses. The +pursuers gradually closed the intervening gap; but with the advantage of +knowing every foot of the ground, the brothers took a tack which carried +them into the valley at the old winter corral. From that point it was a +straight stretch homeward, and, their horses proving their mettle, the +boys dashed up to the stable, where Sargent was found at work among the +other horses. + +"Indians! Indians!" shouted Dell, who arrived in the lead. "Indians have +been chasing us all afternoon. Run for your life, Jack!" + +Joel swept past a moment later, accenting the situation, and as Sargent +left the corral, he caught sight of the pursuing Indians, and showed +splendid action in reaching the dug-out. + +Breathless and gasping, Dell and Joel each grasped a repeating rifle, +while Sargent, in the excitement of the moment, unable to unearth the +story, buckled on a six-shooter. The first reconnoitre revealed the +Indians halted some two hundred yards distant, and parleying among +themselves. At a first glance, the latter seemed to be unarmed, and on +Sargent stepping outside the shack, the leader, the old brave, simply +held up his hand. + +"They must be peaceful Indians," said Sargent to the boys, and signaled +in the leader. + +The old Indian jogged forward on his tired pony, leaving his followers +behind, and on riding up, a smile was noticeable on his wrinkled visage. +He dismounted, unearthing from his scanty breech-clout a greasy, grimy +letter, and tendered it to Sargent. + +The latter scanned the missive, and turning to the boys, who had +ventured forth, broke into a fit of laughter. + +"Why, this is Chief Lone Wolf," said Sargent, "from the Pine Ridge +Agency, going down to see his kinsfolks in the Indian Territory. The +agent at Pine Ridge says that Lone Wolf is a peaceful Indian, and has +his permission to leave the reservation. He hopes that nothing but +kindness will be shown the old chief in his travels, and bespeaks the +confidence of any white settlers that he may meet on the way. You boys +must have been scared out of your wits. Lone Wolf only wanted to show +you this letter." + +Sargent conversed with the old chief in Spanish, the others were +signaled in, when a regular powwow ensued. Dell and Joel shook hands +with all the Indians, Sargent shared his tobacco with Lone Wolf, and on +returning to their encampment at evening, each visitor was burdened with +pickled beef and such other staples as the cow-camp afforded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HARVEST ON THE RANGE + + +Joel set out for the Republican the next morning and was gone four days. +The beef ranches along the river had no men to spare, but constant +inquiry was rewarded by locating an outfit whose holdings consisted of +stock cattle. Three men were secured, their services not being urgently +required on the home ranch until the fall branding, leaving only a cook +and horse wrangler to be secured. Inquiry at Culbertson located a +homesteader and his boy, anxious for work, and the two were engaged. + +"They're to report here on the 15th," said Joel, on his return. "It +gives us six men in the saddle, and we can get out the first shipment +with that number. The cook and wrangler may be a little green at first, +but they're willing, and that masters any task. We'll have to be patient +with them--we were all beginners once. Any man who ever wrestled with a +homestead ought to be able to cook." + +"Yes, indeed," admitted Sargent. "There's nothing develops a man like +settling up a new country. It brings out every latent quality. In the +West you can almost tell a man's native heath by his ability to use +baling wire, hickory withes, or rawhide." + +The instinct of cattle is reliable in selecting their own range. Within +a week, depending on the degree of maturity, the herd, with unerring +nutrient results, turns from one species of grass to another. The +double-wintered cattle naturally returned to their former range; but in +order to quicken the work, any beeves of that class found below were +drifted above headquarters. It was a distinct advantage to leave the +herd undisturbed, and with the first shipment drifted to one end of the +range, a small round-up or two would catch all marketable beeves. + +The engaged men arrived on the appointed date. The cook and wrangler +were initiated into their respective duties at once. The wagon was +equipped for the trail, vicious horses were gentled, and an ample mount +allotted to the extra men. The latter were delighted over the saddle +stock, and mounted to satisfy every desire, no task daunted their +numbers. Sargent was recognized as foreman; but as the work was fully +understood, the concerted efforts of all relieved him of any concern, +except in arranging the details. The ranch had fallen heir to a +complete camp kit, with the new wagon, and with a single day's +preparations, the shipping outfit stood ready to move on an +hour's notice. + +It was no random statement, on the part of the solicitor, that Wells +Brothers could choose the day on which to market their beef. Sargent had +figured out the time, either forced or leisurely, to execute a shipment, +and was rather impatient to try out the outfit in actual field work. + +"Suppose we break in the outfit," he suggested, "by taking a little +swing around the range. It will gentle the horses, instruct the cook and +wrangler, and give us all a touch of the real thing." + +Joel consulted a calendar. "We have four days before beginning to gather +beeves," he announced. "Let's go somewhere and camp." + +"We'll move to the old trail crossing at sun-up," announced Sargent. +"Roll your blankets in the morning, boys." + +A lusty shout greeted the declaration. It was the opening of the +beef-shipping season, the harvest time of the year, and the boys were +impatient to begin the work. But the best-laid plans are often +interrupted. That evening a courier reached headquarters, bearing a +message from the commission firm which read, "Have your double-wintered +beeves on Saturday's market." + +"That's better," said Sargent, glancing over the telegram. "The wagon +and remuda will start for Hackberry Grove at sun-up. Have the messenger +order ten cars for Friday morning. The shipment will be on +Saturday's market." + +Dawn found the outfit at attention. Every movement was made with +alacrity. Two men assisted a husky boy to corral the remuda, others +harnessed in a span of mules, and before the sun peeped over the +horizon, the cavalcade moved out up the valley, the courier returning to +the station. The drag-net from below would be thrown out from the old +winter corral; but as an hour's sun on the cattle rendered them lazy, +half the horsemen halted until the other sighted the grove above. As +early as advisable, the gradual circle was begun, turning the cattle +into the valley, concentrating, and by slowly edging in, the first +round-up of the day was thrown together, numbering, range run, fully six +hundred head. Two men were detailed to hold the round-up compactly, Dell +volunteered to watch the cut (the beeves selected), leaving the other +three to cut out the marketable cattle which would make up the shipment. +A short hour's work followed, resulting in eighty-odd beeves being +selected. Flesh, age, and the brand governed each selection, and when +cut into a class by themselves, the mettle of the pasture was reflected +in every beef. + +The cut was grazed up to the second round-up, which contributed nearly +double the former number. On finishing the work, a count of the beeves +was made, which overran in numbers the necessary shipment. They were +extremely heavy cattle, twenty head to the car was the limit, and it +became necessary to trim or cull back to the desired number. Sargent and +Joel passed on every rejected beef, uniform weight being desirable, +until the shipment stood acceptable, in numbers, form, and finish. + +The beeves were watered and grazed out on their course without delay. +Three days and a half were allowed to reach the railroad, and a grazing +pace would land the herd in the shipping pens in good season. The day's +work consisted in merely pointing and drifting the cattle forward, +requiring only a few men, leaving abundant help to initiate the cook and +wrangler in their field duties. Joel had been a close observer of the +apparent ease with which a cook discharged his duty, frequently halting +his wagon on a moment's notice, and easily preparing a meal for an +outfit of trail men within an hour. The main secret lay in the +foresight, in keeping his work in advance, and Joel lent every +assistance in coaching his cook to meet the emergency of any demand. + +Sargent took the wrangler in hand. The different bunches of horses had +seen service on the trail, were gentle to handle, and attention was +called to observing each individual horse and the remuda as a whole. For +instance, in summer, a horse grazes against the breeze, and if the +remuda was freed intelligently, at darkness, the wind holding from the +same quarter during the night, a practical wrangler would know where to +find his horses at dawn. The quarter of the breeze was therefore always +noted, any variation after darkness, as if subject to the whim of the +wind, turning the course of the grazing remuda. As among men, there were +leaders among horses, and by noting these and applying hobbles, any +inclination to wander was restrained. Fortunately, the husky boy had no +fear of a horse, his approach being as masterly as his leave-taking was +gentle and kindly--a rare gift when unhobbling alone in the open. + +"I'll make a horse wrangler out of this boy," said Sargent to the +father, in the presence of Dell and Joel. "Before the summer ends, he'll +know every crook and turn in the remuda. There's nothing like knowing +your horses. Learn to trail down the lost; know their spirit, know them +in health, lame and wounded. If a horse neighs at night, know why; if +one's missing in the morning, name him like you would an absent boy +at school." + +The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience. The +beeves were given every advantage, and except the loss of sleep in +night-herding, the work approached loafing against time. Three guards +stood watch during the short summer nights, pushing the herd off its bed +at dawn, grazing early and late, and resting through the noon hours. + +An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio. The evening before +loading out, the beeves must be penned, and Joel rode into the station +in advance, to see that cars were in waiting and get the shipping +details. As if sent on the same errand, Manly met him, having been +ordered on from Trail City. + +"I've been burning the wires all morning," said he to Joel, "for a +special train for this shipment. The agent wanted us to take a local +freight from here, but I showed him there were other train shipments to +follow. A telegram to the commission firm and another one to my old man +done the work. Those old boys know how to pull the strings. A special +train has been ordered, and you can name your own hour for leaving in +the morning. I have a man with me; send us in horses and we'll help you +corral your beeves." + +Joel remained only long enough to confirm Manly's foresight. Two horses +were sent in by Dell, and the welcome addition of two extra men joined +the herd, which was easily corralled at dusk of evening. An early hour +was agreed upon to load out, the empty train came in promptly, and the +first shipment of the year was cut into car lots and loaded out during a +morning hour. + +Before the departure of the train, an air of activity was noticeable +around the bleak station. The train crew was insisting for a passenger +schedule, there was billing to be done and contracts to execute, +telegrams of notification to be sent the commission firm, and general +instructions to the beef outfit. Joel and Sargent were to accompany the +shipment, and on starting, while the engineer and conductor were +comparing their running orders, Sargent called out from the rear of the +caboose:-- + +"The best of friends must part," said he, pretending to weep. "Here's +two bits; buy yourself some cheese and crackers, and take some candy +home to the children. Manly, if I never come back, you can have my +little red wagon. Dell, my dear old bunkie--well, you can have all my +other playthings." + +The cattle train faded from sight and the outfit turned homeward. +Horses were left at the station for Joel and Sargent, and the remainder +of the outfit reached headquarters the following day. Manly had been +away from the ranch nearly six months, and he and Dell rode the range, +pending the return of the absent. Under ideal range conditions, the +cattle of marketable age proved a revelation, having rounded into form +beyond belief. + +"That's why I love cattle," said Manly to Dell, while riding the range; +"they never disappoint. Cattle endure time and season, with a hardiness +that no other animal possesses. Given a chance, they repay every debt. +Why, one shipment from these Stoddard cattle will almost wipe the slate. +Uncle Dudley thought this was a fool deal, but Mr. Lovell seemed so bent +on making it that my old man simply gave in. And now you're going to +make a fortune out of these Lazy H's. No wonder us fool Texans love +a cow." + +The absent ones returned promptly. "The Beaver valley not only topped +the market for range cattle," loftily said Sargent, "but topped it in +price and weight. The beeves barely netted fifty-two dollars a head!" + +Early shipments were urged from every quarter. "Hereafter," said Joel, +"the commission firm will order the trains and send us a practical +shipper. There may rise a situation that we may have to rush our +shipments, and we can't spare men to go to market. It pays to be on +time. Those commission men are wide awake. Look at these railroad +passes, good for the year, that they secured for us boys. If any one has +to go to market, we can take a passenger train, and leave the cattle +to follow." + +The addition of two men to the shipping outfit was a welcome asset. The +first consignment from the ranch gave the men a field-trial, and now +that the actual shipping season was at hand, an allotment of horses was +made. The numbers of the remuda admitted of mounting every man to the +limit, and with their first shipment a success, the men rested +impatiently awaiting orders. + +The commission firm, with its wide knowledge of range and market +conditions, was constantly alert. The second order, of ten days' later +date, was a duplicate of the first, with one less for fulfillment. The +outfit dropped down to the old trail crossing the evening before, and by +noon two round-ups had yielded twenty car-loads of straight Lazy H +beeves. When trimmed to their required numbers, twenty-two to the car, +they reflected credit to breeder and present owner. + +In grazing down to the railroad, every hour counted. There was no +apparent rush, but an hour saved at noon, an equal economy at evening +and morning, brought the herd within summons of the shipping yards on +time. That the beeves might be favored, they were held outside for the +night, three miles from the corral, but an early sun found them safely +inside the shipping pens. Two hours later, the full train was en route +to market, in care of a practical shipper. + +On yarding the beeves the customary telegram had been sent to the +commission firm. No reply was expected, but within half an hour after +the train left, a message, asking Joel to accompany the shipment, was +received from Mr. Stoddard. + +"You must go," said Manly, scanning the telegram. "It isn't the last +cattle that he sold you that's worrying my boss. He has two herds on the +market this year, one at Trail City and the other at Ogalalla, and he +may have his eye on you as a possible buyer. You have a pass; you can +catch the eastern mail at noon, and overtake the cattle train in time to +see the beeves unloaded." + +"Which herd did you come up with?" inquired Joel, fumbling through his +pockets for the forgotten pass. + +"With the one at Ogalalla. It's full thirty-one hundred steers, single +ranch brand, and will run about equally twos and threes. Same range, +same stock, as your Lazy H's, and you are perfectly safe in buying them +unseen. Just the same cattle that you bought last year, with the +advantage of a better season on the trail. All you need to do is to +agree on the prices and terms; the cattle are as honest as gold and +twice as good." + +"Leave me a horse and take the outfit home," said Joel with decision. +"If an order comes for more beeves, cut the next train from the Lazy +H's. I'll be back in a day or two." + +Joel Wells was rapidly taking his degrees in the range school. At dusk +he overtook the cattle train, which reached the market yards on schedule +time. The shipper's duty ceased with the unloading of the cattle, which +was easily completed before midnight, when he and his employer +separated. The market would not open until a late morning hour, +affording ample time to rest and refresh the beeves, and to look up +acquaintances in the office. + +Joel had almost learned to dispense with sleep. With the first stir of +the morning, he was up and about. Before the clerks even arrived, he +was hanging around the office of the commission firm. The expected +shipment brought the salesmen and members of the firm much earlier than +usual, and Joel was saved all further impatience. Mr. Stoddard was +summoned, and the last barrier was lifted in the hearty greeting between +the manly boy and a veteran of their mutual occupation. + +The shipment sold early in the day. An hour before noon, an interested +party left the commission office and sauntered forth to watch the beeves +cross the scale. It was the parting look of breeder, owner, and factor, +and when the average weight was announced, Mr. Stoddard turned to +the others. + +"Look here, Mr. Joel," said he, "are these the cattle I sold you last +summer?" + +"They carry your brand," modestly admitted Joel. + +"So I notice," assentingly said the old cowman. "And still I can +scarcely believe my eyes. Of course I'm proud of having bred these +beeves, even if the lion's share of their value to-day goes to the boys +who matured them. I must be an old fogy." + +"You are," smilingly said the senior member of the commission house. +"Every up-to-date Texas cowman has a northern beef ranch. To be sure, +as long as you can raise a steer as cheap as another man can raise a +frying chicken, you'll prosper in a way. Wells Brothers aren't afraid of +a little cold, and you are. In that way only, the lion's share falls +to them." + +"One man to his own farm, another to his merchandise," genially quoted +the old cowman, "and us poor Texans don't take very friendly to your +northern winters. It's the making of cattle, but excuse your Uncle +Dudley. Give me my own vine and fig tree." + +"Then wish the boys who brave the storm success," urged the old factor. + +"I do," snorted the grizzled ranchman. "These beeves are a story that is +told. I'm here to sell young Wells another herd of cattle. He's my +customer as much as yours. That's the reason I urged his +presence to-day." + +The atmosphere cleared. On the market and under the weight, each beef +was paying the cost of three the year before; but it was the letter of +the bond, and each party to the contract respected his obligation. + +After returning to the office, on a petty pretext, Mr. Stoddard and Joel +wandered away. They returned early in the afternoon, to find all +accounts made up, and ready for their personal approval. The second +shipment easily enabled Joel to take up his contract, and when the +canceled document was handed him, Mr. Stoddard turned to the senior +member of the firm. + +"I've offered to duplicate that contract," said he, "on the same price +and terms, and for double the number of cattle. This quarantine raises +havoc with delivery." + +"A liberal interpretation of the new law is in effect," remarked the +senior member. "There's too many interests involved to insist on a rigid +enforcement. The ban is already raised on any Panhandle cattle, and any +north of certain latitudes can get a clean bill of health. If that's all +that stands in the way of a trade, our firm will use its good offices." + +"In that case," said Joel, nodding to Mr. Stoddard, "we'll take your +herd at Ogalalla. Move it down to the old trail crossing on the +Republican, just over the state line and north of our range. This firm +is perfectly acceptable again as middlemen or factors," he concluded, +turning to the member present. + +"Thank you," said the old factor. "We'll try and merit any confidence +reposed. This other matter will be taken up with the quarantine +authorities at once. Show me your exact range," he requested, turning to +a map and indicating the shipping station. + +Wells Brothers' range lay in the northwest corner of the state. The +Republican River, in Nebraska, ran well over the line to the north, with +unknown neighbors on the west in Colorado. + +"It's a clear field," observed the old factor. "Your own are the only +cattle endangered, and since you are the applicant for the bill of +health, you absolve the authorities from all concern. Hurry in your +other shipments, and the railroad can use its influence--it'll want +cattle to ship next year. The ranges must be restocked." + +There was sound logic in the latter statement. A telegram was sent to +Ogalalla, to start the through herd, and another to the beef outfit, to +hurry forward the next shipment. Joel left for home that night, and the +next evening met his outfit, ten miles out from the Beaver, with a +perfect duplicate of the former consignment. It was early harvest on the +cattle ranges, and those who were favored with marketable beef were +eager to avoid the heavy rush of fall shipments. + +The beef herd camped for the night on the divide. Joel's report provoked +argument, and a buzz of friendly contention, as the men lounged around +the tiny camp-fire, ran through the outfit. + +"It may be the custom among you Texans," protested one of the lads from +the Republican, "but I wouldn't buy a herd of cattle without seeing +them. Buy three thousand head of cattle unseen? Not this one of old man +Vivian's boys! Oh, no!" + +"Link, that kind of talk shows your raising," replied Sargent. "Your +view is narrow and illiberal. You haven't traveled far. Your tickets +cost somewhere between four and six bits." + +Manly lifted his head from a saddle, and turning on his side, gazed at +the dying fire. "Vivian," said he, "it all depends on how your folks +bring you up. Down home we buy and sell by ages. A cow is a cow, a steer +is a steer, according to his age, and so on down to the end of the +alphabet. The cattle never misrepresent and there's no occasion for +seeing them. If you are laboring under the idea that my old man would +use any deception to sell a herd, you have another guess coming. He'd +rather lose his right hand than to misrepresent the color of a cow. He's +as jealous of his cattle as a miller is of his flour. These boys are his +customers, last fall, this summer, and possibly for years to come. If he +wanted them, Joel did perfectly right to buy the cattle unseen." + +The second train of Lazy H beeves reached the railroad on schedule +time. The shipper was in waiting, cattle cars filled the side track, and +an engine and crew could be summoned on a few hours' notice. If +corralled the night before, passing trains were liable to excite the +beeves, and thereafter it became the usual custom to hold outside and +safely distant. + +The importance of restocking the range hurried the shipping operations. +Instead of allowing the wagon to reach the station, at sunrise on the +morning of shipping, it and the remuda were started homeward. + +"We'll gather beeves on the lower end of our range to-morrow," said Joel +to the cook and wrangler, "and there's no need to touch at headquarters. +Follow the trail to the old crossing, and make camp at the lower +tank--same camp-ground as the first shipment of Lazy H's. The rest of +the outfit will follow, once these cattle are loaded out. You might have +a late supper awaiting us--about ten o'clock to-night." + +The gates closed on the beeves without mishap. They were cut into car +lots, from horseback, and on the arrival of the crew, the loading began. +A short hour's work saw the cattle aboard, when the dusty horsemen +mounted and clattered into the straggling hamlet. + +The homeward trip was like a picnic. The outfit halted on the first +running water, and saddle pockets disgorged a bountiful lunch. The +horses rolled, grazed the noon hours through, and again took up their +former road gait. An evening halt was made on the Prairie Dog, where an +hour's grazing was again allowed, the time being wholly devoted to +looking into the future. + +"If we stock the range fully this fall," said Joel, in outlining his +plans, "it is my intention to build an emergency camp on this creek, in +case of winter drifts. Build a dug-out in some sheltered nook, cache a +little provision and a few sacks of corn, and if the cattle break the +line, we can ride out of snug quarters any morning and check them. It +beats waiting for a wagon and giving the drift a twenty-mile start. We +could lash our blankets on a pack horse and ride it night or day." + +"What a long head!" approvingly said Sargent. "Joel, you could almost +eat out of a churn. An emergency camp on the Prairie Dog is surely a +meaty idea. But that's for next winter, and beef shipping's on in full +blast right now. Let's ride; supper's waiting on the Beaver." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LIVING IN THE SADDLE + + +The glow of a smouldering camp-fire piloted the returning horsemen +safely to their wagon. A good night's rest fitted them for the task of +the day, which began at sunrise. The next shipment would come from the +flotsam of the year before, many of which were heavy beeves, intended +for army delivery, but had fallen footsore on the long, drouthy march. +The past winter had favored the lame and halt, and after five months of +summer, the bulk of them had matured into finished beef. + +By shipping the different contingents separately, the brothers were +enabled to know the situation at all times. No accounts were kept, but +had occasion required, either Joel or Dell could have rendered a +statement from memory of returns on the double and single wintered, as +well as on the purchased cattle. Sale statements were furnished by the +commission house, and by filing these, an account of the year's +shipments, each brand separate, could be made up at the end of +the season. + +The early struggle of Wells Brothers, in stocking their range, was now +happily over. Instead of accepting the crumbs which fell as their +portion, their credit and resources enabled them to choose the class of +cattle which promised growth and quick returns. The range had proven +itself in maturing beef, and the ranch thereafter would carry only +sufficient cows to quiet and pacify its holdings of cattle. + +"If this was my ranch," said Sargent to the brothers at breakfast, "I'd +stock it with two-year-old steers and double-winter every hoof. Look +over those sale statements and you'll see what two winters mean. That +first shipment of Lazy H's was as fat as mud, and yet they netted seven +dollars a head less than those rag-tag, double-wintered ones. There's a +waste that must be saved hereafter." + +"That's our intention," said Joel. "We'll ship out every hoof that has +the flesh this year. Nearly any beef will buy three two-year-old steers +to take his place. It may take another year or two to shape up our +cattle, but after that, every hoof must be double-wintered." + +An hour after sunrise, the drag-net was drawing together the first +round-up of the day. The importance of handling heavy beeves without any +excitement was fully understood, and to gather a shipment without +disturbing those remaining was a task that required patience and +intelligence. Men on the outside circle merely turned the cattle on the +extremes of the range; they were followed by inner horsemen, and the +drag-net closed at a grazing pace, until the round-up halted on a +few acres. + +The first three shipments had tried out the remuda. The last course in +the education of a cow-horse is cutting cattle out of a mixed round-up. +On the present work, those horses which had proven apt were held in +reserve, and while the first contingent of cattle was quieting down, the +remuda was brought up and saddles shifted to four cutting horses. The +average cow can dodge and turn quicker than the ordinary horse, and only +a few of the latter ever combine action and intelligence to outwit the +former. Cunning and ingenuity, combined with the required alertness, a +perfect rein, coupled with years of actual work, produce that rarest of +range mounts--the cutting horse. + +Dell had been promised a trial in cutting out beeves. Sargent took him +in hand, and mounted on two picked horses, they entered the herd. "Now, +I'll pick the beeves," said the latter, "and you cut them out. All you +need to do is to rein that horse down on your beef, and he'll take him +out of the herd. Of course you'll help the horse some little; but if you +let too many back, I'll call our wrangler and try him out. That horse +knows the work just as well as you do. Now, go slow, and don't ride over +your beef." + +The work commenced. The beeves were lazy from flesh, inactive, and only +a few offered any resistance to the will of the horsemen. Dell made a +record of cutting out fifty beeves in less than an hour, and only +letting one reenter the herd. The latter was a pony-built beef, and +after sullenly leaving the herd, with the agility of a cat, he whirled +right and left on the space of a blanket, and beat the horse back into +the round-up. Sargent lent a hand on the second trial, and when the beef +saw that resistance was useless, he kicked up his heels and trotted away +to join those selected for shipment. + +"He's laughing at you," said Sargent. "He only wanted to try you out. +Just wanted to show you that no red-headed boy and flea-bit horse could +turn him. And he showed you." + +"This beats roping," admitted Dell, as the two returned to the herd, +quite willing to change the subject. "Actually when a beef reaches the +edge of the herd, this horse swells up and his eyes pop out like +door-knobs. You can feel every muscle in him become as rigid as ropes, +and he touches the ground as if he was walking on eggs. Look at him now; +goes poking along as if he was half asleep." + +"He's a cutting horse and doesn't wear himself out. Whenever you can +strip the bridle off, while cutting out a beef, and handle your steer, +that's the top rung a cow-horse can reach. He's a king pin--that's +royalty." + +A second round-up was required to complete the train-load of beeves. +They were not uniform in weight or age, and would require reclassing +before loading aboard the cars. Their flesh and finish were fully up to +standard, but the manner in which they were acquired left them uneven, +their ages varying from four to seven years. + +"There's velvet in this shipment," said Sargent, when the beeves had +been counted and trimmed. "These cattle can defy competition. Instead of +five cents a head for watering last year's drive, this year's shipment +from crumbs will net you double that amount. The first gathering of beef +will square the account with every thirsty cow you watered last summer." + +An extra day was allowed in which to reach the railroad. The shipment +must pen the evening before, and halting the herd within half a mile of +the railway corrals, the reclassing fell to Joel and Sargent. The +contingent numbered four hundred and forty beeves, and in order to have +them marketable, all rough, heavy cattle must be cut into a class by +themselves, leaving the remainder neat and uniform. A careful hour's +work resulted in seven car-loads of extra heavy beeves, which were +corralled separately and in advance of the others, completing a long day +in the saddle. + +Important mail was awaiting Wells Brothers at the station. A permit from +the state quarantine authorities had been secured, due to the influence +of the commission house and others, admitting the through herd, then en +route from Ogalalla. The grant required a messenger to meet the herd +without delay, and Dell volunteered his services as courier. Darkness +fell before supper was over and the messenger ready. + +"One more shipment will clean up our beeves," said Joel to his brother, +"and those through cattle can come in the day we gather our last train. +We'll give them a clear field. If the herd hasn't reached the +Republican, push ahead until you meet it." + +A hundred-mile ride lay before Dell Wells. "You mean for the herd to +follow the old trail," he inquired, "and turn off opposite our +middle tank?" + +"That's it; and hold the cattle under herd until we can count and +receive them." + +Dell led out his horse and mounted. "Dog-toe will take me safely home +to-night," said he, "and we'll reach the Republican by noon to-morrow. +If the herd's there, you haven't an hour to waste. We'll drop down on +you in a day and a half." + +The night received courier and horse. A clatter of caution and advice +followed the retreating figure out of hearing, when the others threw +themselves down around the camp-fire. Early morning found the outfit +astir, and as on the previous occasion, the wagon and remuda were +started home at daybreak. The loading and shipping instructions were +merely a repetition of previous consignments, and the train had barely +left the station when the cavalcade rode to overtake the commissary. + +The wagon was found encamped on the Prairie Dog. An hour's rest was +allowed, fresh horses were saddled, when Joel turned to the cook and +wrangler: "Make camp to-night on the middle tank, below headquarters. +We'll ride on ahead and drift all the cattle up the creek. Our only +round-up to-morrow will be well above the old winter corral. It's our +last gathering of beef, and we want to make a general round-up of the +range. We'll drift cattle until dark, so that it'll be late when we +reach camp." + +The outfit of horsemen followed the old trail, and only sighted the +Beaver late in the afternoon. The last new tank, built that spring, was +less than a mile below the old crossing; and veering off there, the +drag-net was thrown across the valley below it, and a general drift +begun. An immense half-circle, covering the limits of the range, pointed +the cattle into the valley, and by moving forward and converging as the +evening advanced, a general drift was maintained. The pace was barely +that of grazing, and as darkness approached, all cattle on the lower end +of the range were grazed safely above the night camp and left adrift. + +The wagon had arrived, and the men reached camp by twos and threes. +There was little danger of the cattle returning to their favorite range +during the night, but for fear of stragglers, at an early hour in the +morning the drag-net was again thrown out from camp. Headquarters was +passed before the horsemen began encountering any quantity of cattle, +and after passing the old winter corral, the men on the points of the +half-circle were sent to ride the extreme limits of the range. By the +middle of the forenoon, everything was adrift, and as the cattle +naturally turned into the valley for their daily drink, a few complete +circles brought the total herd into a general round-up, numbering over +fifteen hundred head of mixed cattle. + +Meanwhile the wagon and remuda had followed up the drift, dinner was +waiting, and after the mid-day meal had been bolted, orders rang out. +"Right here's where all hands and the cook draw fresh horses," said +Sargent, "and get into action. It's a bulky herd, and cutting out will +be slow. The cook and wrangler must hold the beeves, and that will turn +the rest of us free to watch the round-up and cut out." + +By previous agreement, in order to shorten the work, Joel was to cut out +the remnant of double-wintered beeves, Manly the Lazy H's, while Sargent +and an assistant would confine their selections to the single-wintered +ones in the ---- Y brand. Each man would tally his own work, even +car-loads were required, and a total would constitute the shipment. The +cutting out began quietly; but after a nucleus of beeves were selected, +their numbers gained at the rate of three to five a minute, while the +sweat began to reek from the horses. + +Joel cut two car-loads of prime beeves, and then tendered his services +to Sargent. The cattle had quieted, and a fifth man was relieved from +guarding the round-up, and sent to the assistance of Manly. A steady +stream of beef poured out for an hour, when a comparison of figures was +made. Manly was limited to one hundred and twenty head, completing an +even thousand shipped from the brand, and lacking four, was allowed to +complete his number. Sargent was without limit, the object being to trim +the general herd of every heavy, rough beef, and a tally on numbers was +all that was required. The work was renewed with tireless energy, and +when the limit of twenty cars was reached, a general conference resulted +in cutting two loads extra. + +"That leaves the home cattle clean of rough stuff," said Sargent, as he +dismounted and loosened the saddle on a tired horse. "Any aged steers +left are clean thrifty cattle, and will pay their way to hold another +year. Turn the round-up adrift." + +After blowing their horses, a detail of men drifted the general herd up +the creek. Others lent their assistance to the wrangler in corralling +his remuda, and after relieving the cutting horses, the beeves were +grazed down the valley. The outfit had not spent a night at headquarters +in some time, the wagon serving as a substitute, and orders for evening +freed all hands except two men on herd with the beeves. + +The hurry of the day was over. On securing fresh horses, Joel and +Sargent turned to the assistance of the detail, then drifting the main +herd westward. The men were excused, to change mounts, and relieved from +further duty until the guards, holding the beeves, were arranged for the +night. The remnant of the herd was pushed up the creek and freed near +Hackberry Grove, and on returning to overtake the beeves, the two +horsemen crossed a spur of the tableland, jutting into the valley, +affording a perfect view of the surrounding country. + +With the first sweep of the horizon, their horses were reined to a halt. +Fully fifteen miles to the northeast, and in a dip of the plain, hung an +ominous dust cloud. Both horsemen read the sign at a glance. + +Sargent was the first to speak. "Dell met the herd on the Republican," +said he with decision. "It's the Stoddard cattle from Ogalalla. The +pitch of their dust shows they're trailing south." + +The sign in the sky was read correctly. The smoke from a running train +and the dust from a trailing herd, when viewed from a distance, pitches +upward from a horizon line, and the moving direction of train or herd is +easily read by an observant plainsman. Sargent's summary was confirmed +on reaching headquarters, where Dell and the trail foreman were found, +the latter regaling Manly and others with the chronicle of the +new trail. + +The same foreman as the year before was in charge of the herd. He +protested against any step tending to delivery for that day, even to +looking the cattle over. "Uncle Dud wouldn't come," said he, "and it's +up to me to make the delivery. I've been pioneering around all summer +with this herd, and now that I'm my own boss, I'll take orders from no +one. We made rather a forced drive from the Republican, and I want a +good night's rest for both the herd and myself. Ten o'clock in the +morning will be early enough to tender the cattle for delivery. In the +mean time, our pilot, the red-headed clerk, will answer all questions. +As for myself, I'm going to sleep in the new tent, and if any one calls +or wakes me in the morning, I'll get up and wear him out. I've lost a +right smart of sleep this summer, and I won't stand no trifling." + +Joel fully understood that the object in delay was to have the herd in +presentable condition, and offered no objection. The beeves were grazed +up opposite headquarters, and the guards were arranged for the night, +which passed without incident. Thereafter, as a matter of precaution, a +dead-line must be maintained between the wintered and the through +cattle; and as Manly was to remain another year, he and an assistant +were detailed to stay at headquarters. A reduced mount of horses was +allowed them, and starting the beeves at daybreak, the wagon and remuda +followed several hours later. + +The trail foreman was humored in his wishes. It was nearly noon when the +through herd was reached, grazed and watered to surfeiting, and a single +glance satisfied Joel Wells that the cattle fully met every requirement. +The question of age was disposed of as easily as that of quality. + +"We gathered this year's drive on our home ranges," said the foreman, +"and each age was held separate until the herds were made up. I started +with fifteen hundred threes and sixteen hundred twos, with ten head +extra of each age, in case of loss on the trail. Our count on leaving +Ogalalla showed a loss of twelve head. I'm willing to class or count +them as they run. Manly knows the make-up of the herd." + +Sargent and the brothers rode back and forth through the scattered +cattle. It meant a big saving of time to accept them on a straight +count, and on being rejoined by the foreman, Joel waived his intent to +classify the cattle. + +"I bought this herd on Mr. Stoddard's word," said he, "and I'm going to +class it on yours. String out your cattle, and you and Manly count +against Sargent and myself." + +A correct count on a large herd is no easy task. In trailing formation, +the cattle march between a line of horsemen, but in the open the +difficulty is augmented. A noonday sun lent its assistance in quieting +the herd, which was shaped into an immense oval, and the count +attempted. The four men elected to make the count cut off a number of +the leaders, and counting them, sent them adrift. Thereafter, the trail +outfit fed the cattle between the quartette, who sat their horses in +speechless intensity, as the column filed through at random. Each man +used a string, containing ten knots, checking the hundreds by slipping +the knots, and when the last hoof had passed in review, the quiet of a +long hour was relieved by a general shout, when the trail outfit dashed +up to know the result. + +"How many strays have you?" inquired Sargent of the foreman, as the +quartette rode together. + +"That's so; there's a steer and a heifer; we'll throw them in for good +measure. What's your count?" + +"Minus the strays, mine repeats yours at Ogalalla," answered Sargent, +turning to Joel. + +"Thirty-one hundred and ten," said the boy. + +The trail foreman gave vent to a fit of laughter. "Young fellow," said +he, "I never allow no man to outdo me in politeness. If you bought these +cattle on my old man's word, I want you to be safe in receiving them. +We'll class them sixteen hundred twos, and fifteen hundred threes, and +any overplus falls to the red-headed pilot. That's about what Uncle Dud +would call a Texas count and classification. Shake out your horses; +dinner's waiting." + +There were a few details to arrange. Manly must have an assistant, and +an extra man was needed with the shipment, both of whom volunteered from +the through outfit. The foreman was invited to move up to headquarters +and rest to his heart's content, but in his anxiety to report to his +employer, the invitation was declined. + +"We'll follow up to-morrow," said he, "and lay over on the railroad +until you come in with our beeves. The next hard work I do is to get in +touch with my Uncle Dudley." + +"Look here--how about it--when may we expect you home?" sputtered Manly, +as the others hurriedly made ready to overtake the beef herd. + +"When you see us again," answered Joel, mounting his horse. "If this +shipment strikes a good market, we may drop down to Trail City and pick +up another herd. It largely depends on our bank account. Until you see +or hear from us, hold the dead-line and locate your cattle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +INDEPENDENCE + + +The trail outfit reached the railroad a day in advance of the beeves. +Shipping orders were sent to the station agent in advance, and on the +arrival of the herd the two outfits made short shift in classifying it +for market and corralling the different grades of cattle. + +Mr. Stoddard had been located at Trail City. Once the shipment was +safely within the corral, notice was wired the commission firm, +affording time for reply before the shipment would leave in the morning. +An early call at the station was rewarded by receipt of a wire from the +west. "Read that," said the foreman, handing the telegram to Joel; +"wants all three of us to come into the city." + +"Of course," commented Joel, returning the message. "It's clear enough. +There's an understanding between us. At the earliest convenience, after +the delivery of the herd, we were to meet and draw up the final papers. +We'll all go in with this shipment." + +"And send the outfits across country to Trail City?" + +"Throw the remudas together and let them start the moment the cattle +train leaves. We can go back with Mr. Stoddard and meet the outfits at +the new trail market." + +"That's the ticket," said the trail boss. "I'm dead tired of riding +horses and eating at a wagon. Give me the plush cushions and let me put +my little feet under a table once more." + +The heavy cattle train was promised a special schedule. The outfits +received their orders, and at the usual hour in the morning, the +shipment started to market. Weathered brown as a saddle, Dell was +walking on clouds, lending a hand to the shipper in charge, riding on +the engine, or hungering for the rare stories with which the trail +foreman regaled the train crew. The day passed like a brief hour, the +train threading its way past corn fields, country homes, and scorning to +halt at the many straggling villages that dotted the route. + +It was a red-letter day in the affairs of Wells Brothers. The present, +their fifth shipment of the year, a total of over nineteen hundred +beeves, was en route to market. Another day, and their operations in +cattle, from a humble beginning to the present hour, could be condensed +into a simple statement. The brothers could barely wait the intervening +hours, and when the train reached the market and they had retired for +the night, speculation ran rife in planning the future. And amid all +their dreams and air castles, in the shadowy background stood two simple +men whose names were never mentioned except in terms of loving +endearment. + +Among their many friends, Quince Forrest was Dell's hero. "They're all +good fellows," he admitted, "but Mr. Quince is a prince. He gave us our +start in cattle. Our debt to him--well, we can never pay it. And he +never owned a hoof himself." + +"We owe Mr. Paul just as much," protested Joel. "He showed us our +chance. When pa died, the settlers on the Solomon talked of making bound +boys of us. Mr. Paul was the one who saw us as we are to-day." + +"I wish mother could have lived to see us now--shipping beeves by the +train-load--and buying cattle by the thousand." + +An eager market absorbed the beeves, and before noon they had crossed +the scale. A conference, jubilant in its nature, took place during the +afternoon, in the inner office of the commission firm. The execution of +a new contract was a mere detail; but when the chief bookkeeper handed +in a statement covering the shipments of this and the previous year, a +lull in the gayety was followed by a moment of intense interest. The +account showed a balance of sixty-odd thousand dollars in favor of +Wells Brothers! + +"Give them a letter of credit for their balance," said Mr. Stoddard, +amid the general rejoicing. "And get us some passes; we're all going out +to Trail City to-night. There's a few bargains on that market, and the +boys want to stock their range fully." + +"Yours obediently," said the old factor, beaming on his patrons. "And if +the boys have any occasion to use any further funds, don't hesitate to +draw on us. The manner in which they have protected their credit +entitles them to our confidence. Our customers come first. Their +prosperity is our best asset. A great future lies before you boys, and +we want a chance to help you reach it. Keep in touch with us; we may +hear of something to your advantage." + +"In case we need it, can you get us another permit to bring Texas cattle +into Kansas?" eagerly inquired Joel. + +"Try us," answered the old man, with a knowing look. "We may not be able +to, but in securing business, railroads look years ahead." + +A jolly party of cowmen left for Trail City that night. Morning found +their train creeping up the valley of the Arkansas. The old trail market +of Dodge, deserted and forlorn-looking among the wild sunflower, was +passed like a way station. The new market was only a mile over the state +line, in Colorado, and on nearing their destination the party +drew together. + +"I've only got a remnant of a herd left," said Mr. Stoddard, "and I want +you to understand that there's no obligation to even look at them. Mr. +Lovell's at his beef ranch in Dakota, and his men have not been seen +since the herds passed north in June. But I'll help you buy any cattle +you want." + +In behalf of the brothers, Joel accepted the offer. "These Texas +cattle," he continued, "reach their maturity the summer following their +fourth year. Hereafter, as fast as possible, we want to shape up our +holdings so as to double-winter all our beef cattle. For that reason, we +prefer to buy two-year-olds. We'll look at your remnant; there would be +no occasion to rebrand, which is an advantage." + +The train reached Trail City on time. The town was of mushroom +growth--a straggling business street with fancy fronts, while the outer +portions of the village were largely constructed of canvas. The Arkansas +River passed to the south, numerous creeks put in to the main stream, +affording abundant water to the herds on sale, while a bountiful range +surrounded the market. Shipping pens, branding chutes, and every +facility for handling cattle were complete. + +The outfits were not expected in for another day. In the mean time, it +became rumored about that the two boys who had returned with Mr. +Stoddard and his trail foreman were buyers for a herd of cattle. The +presence of the old cowman threw a barrier of protection around the +brothers, except to his fellow drovers, who were made acquainted with +his proteges and their errand freely discussed. + +"These boys are customers of mine," announced Mr. Stoddard to a group of +his friends. "I sold them a herd at Dodge last year, and another at +Ogalalla this summer. Range on the Beaver, in northwest Kansas. Just +shipped out their last train of beeves this week. Had them on +yesterday's market. From what I gather, they can use about three +thousand to thirty-five hundred head. At least their letter of credit is +good for those numbers. Sorry I ain't got the cattle myself. They +naturally look to me for advice, and I feel an interest in the boys. +Their outfit ought to be in by to-morrow." + +Mr. Stoddard's voucher placed the brothers on a firm footing, and every +attention was shown the young cowmen. An afternoon and a morning's +drive, and the offerings on the trail market had been carefully looked +over, including the remnant of Mr. Stoddard. Only a few herds possessed +their original numbers, none of which were acceptable to the buyers, +while the smaller ones frequently contained the desired grade and age. + +"Let me put you boys in possession of some facts," urged Mr. Stoddard, +in confidence to the brothers. "Most of us drovers are tired out, +disgusted with the slight demand for cattle, and if you'll buy out our +little remnants and send us home--well, we'd almost let you name the +price. Unless my herds are under contract, this is my last year on +the trail." + +The remnant of Mr. Stoddard's herd numbered around seven hundred head. +They were largely twos, only a small portion of threes, and as an +inducement their owner offered to class them at the lesser age, and +priced them at the same figures as those delivered on the Beaver. On +range markets, there was a difference in the selling value of the two +ages, amounting to three dollars a head; and as one third of the cattle +would have classed as threes, Joel waived his objection to their ages. + +"We'll take your remnant on one condition," said he. "Start your outfits +home, but you hang around until we make up our herd." + +"That's my intention, anyhow," replied Mr. Stoddard. "My advice would be +to pick up these other remnants. Two years on a steer makes them all +alike. You have seen cripple and fagged cattle come out of the kinks, +and you know the advantage of a few cows; keeps your cattle quiet and on +the home range. You might keep an eye open for any bargains in +she stuff." + +"That's just what Jack Sargent says," said Dell; "that we ought to have +a cow to every ten or fifteen steers." + +"Sargent's our foreman," explained Joel. "He's a Texan, and knows cattle +right down to the split in their hoof. With his and your judgment, we +ought to make up a herd of cattle in a few days." + +The two outfits came in on the evening of the fourth day. The next +morning the accepted cattle were counted and received, the through +outfits relieved, the remudas started overland under a detail, and the +remainder of the men sent home by rail. In acquiring a nucleus, Wells +Brothers fell heir to a temporary range and camp, which thereafter +became their headquarters. + +A single day was wasted in showing the different remnants to Sargent, +and relieved of further concern, Mr. Stoddard lent his best efforts to +bring buyer and seller together. Barter began in earnest, on the +different fragments acceptable in age and quality. Prices on range +cattle were nearly standard, at least established for the present, and +any yielding on the part of drovers was in classing and conceding ages. +Bargaining began on the smaller remnants, and once the buyers began to +receive and brand, there was a flood of offerings, and the herd was made +up the second day. The ---- Y was run on the different remnants as fast +as received, and when completed, the herd numbered a few over +thirty-four hundred head. The suggestion to add cows to their holdings +was not overlooked, and in making up the herd, two fragments, numbering +nearly five hundred, were purchased. + +"The herd will be a trifle unwieldy," admitted Sargent, "but we're only +going to graze home. And unless we get a permit, we had better hold +over the line in Colorado until after the first frost." + +"Don't worry about the permit," admonished Mr. Stoddard; "it's sure." + +"We'll provision the wagon for a month," said Joel, "and that will take +us home, with or without a bill of health." + +The commissary was stocked, three extra men were picked up, and the herd +started northward over the new Ogalalla trail. A week later it crossed +the Kansas Pacific Railroad, when Joel left the herd, returning to their +local station. A haying outfit was engaged, placed under the direction +of Manly, and after spending a few days at headquarters, the young +cowman returned to the railroad. + +The expected permit was awaiting him. There was some slight danger in +using it, without first removing their wintered cattle; and after a +conference with Manly, it was decided to scout out the country between +their range and the Colorado line. The first herd of cattle had located +nicely, one man being sufficient to hold the dead-line; and taking a +pack horse, Joel and Manly started to explore the country between the +upper tributaries of the Beaver and the Colorado line. + +A rifle was taken along to insure venison. Near the evening of the first +day, a band of wild horses was sighted, the trail of which was +back-tracked to a large lake in the sand hills. On resuming their scout +in the morning, sand dunes were scaled, admitting of an immense survey +of country, but not until evening was water in any quantity encountered. +The scouts were beginning to despair of finding water for the night, +when an immense herd of antelope was sighted, crossing the plain at an +easy gallop and disappearing among the dunes. Following up the game +trail, a perfect chain of lakes, a mile in length, was found at sunset. +A venison was shot and a fat camp for the night assured. + +The glare of the plain required early observation. The white haze, heat +waves, and mirages were on every hand, blotting out distinct objects +during the day. On leaving the friendly sand hills, the horsemen bore +directly for the timber on the Republican, which was sighted the third +morning, and reached the river by noon. + +No sign or trace of cattle was seen. The distance between the new and +old trail was estimated at one hundred miles, and judging from their +hours in the saddle, the scouts hoped to reach the new crossing on the +river that evening. The mid-day glare prevented observations; and as +they followed the high ground along the Republican, at early evening +indistinct objects were made out on the border of a distant mirage. + +The scouts halted their horses. On every hand might be seen the optical +illusions of the plain. Beautiful lakes, placid and blue, forests and +white-capped mountains, invited the horsemen to turn aside and rest. But +the allurement of the mirage was an old story, and holding the objects +in view, they jogged on, halting from time to time as the +illusions lifted. + +Mirages arise at evening. At last, in their normal proportions, the +objects of concern moved to and fro. "They're cattle!" shouted Manly. +"We're near a ranch, or it's the herd!" + +"Yonder's a smoke-cloud!" excitedly said Joel. "See it! in the valley! +above that motte of cotton-woods!" + +"It's a camp! Come on!" + +The herd had every appearance of being under control. As the scouts +advanced, the outline of an immense loose herd was noticeable, and on a +far, low horizon, a horseman was seen on duty. On reaching the cattle, a +single glance was given, when the brands told the remainder of +the story. + +A detail of men was met leaving camp. Sargent was among them, and after +hearty greetings were over, Joel outlined the programme: "After leaving +the Republican," said he, "there's water between here and home in two +places. None of them are over thirty miles apart--a day and a half's +drive. I have a bill of health for these cattle, and turn the herd down +the river in the morning." + +The new trail crossing was only a few miles above on the river. The herd +had arrived three days before, and finding grass and water in abundance, +the outfit had gone into camp, awaiting word from home. There was no +object in waiting any great distance from headquarters, and after a +day's travel down the Republican, a tack was made for the sand hills. + +A full day's rest was allowed the herd on the chain of lakes. By +watering early, a long drive was made during the afternoon, followed by +a dry camp, and the lagoon where the wild horses had been sighted was +reached at evening the next day. + +It was yet early in September, and for fear of fever, it was decided to +isolate the herd until after the first frost. The camp was within easy +touch of headquarters; and leaving Sargent and five men, the commissary, +and half the remuda, the remainder returned to the Beaver valley. The +water would hold the cattle, and even if a month elapsed before frost +lifted the ban, the herd would enjoy every freedom. + +The end of the summer's work was in sight. The men from the Republican +were paid for their services, commended for their faithfulness, and went +their way. Preparations for winter were the next concern; and while +holding the dead-line, plans for two new line-camps were outlined, one +below the old trail crossing and the other an emergency shelter on the +Prairie Dog. Forage had been provided at both points, and in outlining +the winter lines, Joel submitted his idea for Manly's approval. + +"Sargent thinks we can hold the cattle on twenty miles of the Beaver +valley," said he, sketching the range on the ground at his feet. "We'll +have to ride lines again, and in case the cattle break through during a +storm, we can work from our emergency camp on the Prairie Dog. In case +that line is broken, we can drop down to the railroad and make another +attempt to check any drift. And as a last resort, whether we hold the +line or not, we'll send an outfit as far south as the Arkansas River, +and attend the spring round-ups from there north to the Republican. We +have the horses and men, and no one can throw out a wider drag-net than +our outfit. Let the winter come as it will; we can ride to the lead +when spring comes." + +The future of Wells Brothers rested on sure foundations. Except in its +new environment, their occupation was as old as the human race, our +heroes being merely players in a dateless drama. They belonged to a +period in the development of our common country, dating from a day when +cattle were the corner-stone of one fourth of our national domain. They +and their kind were our pioneers, our empire builders; for when a cowman +pushed into some primal valley and possessed it with his herd, his ranch +became an outpost on our frontier. The epoch was truly Western; their +ranges were controlled without investment, their cattle roamed the +virgin pastures of an unowned land. + +Over twenty-five years have passed since an accident changed the course +of the heroes of this story. Since that day of poverty and uncertain +outlook, the brothers have been shaken by adversity, but have arisen +triumphant over every storm. From their humble beginning, chronicled +here, within two decades the brothers acquired no less than seven +ranches in the Northwest, while their holdings of cattle often ran in +excess of one hundred thousand head. The trail passed away within two +years of the close of this narrative; but from their wide acquaintance +with former drovers, cattle with which to restock their ranches were +brought north by rail. Their operations covered a wide field, requiring +trusty men; and with the passing of the trail, their first sponsors +found ready employment with their former proteges. And to-day, in the +many irrigation projects of the brothers, in reclaiming the arid +regions, among the directors of their companies the names of J.Q. +Forrest and John P. Priest may be found. + +A new generation now occupies the Beaver valley. In the genesis of the +West, the cowman, the successor of the buffalo and Indian, gave way to +the home-loving instinct of man. The sturdy settler crept up the valley, +was repulsed again and again by the plain, only to renew his assault +until success crowned his efforts. It was then that the brothers saw +their day and dominion passing into the hands of another. But instead of +turning to new fields, they remained with the land that nurtured and +rewarded them, an equally promising field opening in financing vast +irrigation enterprises and in conserving the natural water supply. + +Joel and Dell Wells live in the full enjoyment of fortunes wrested from +the plain. They are still young men, in the prime of life, while the +opportunities of a thrifty country invite their assistance and +leadership on every hand. They are deeply interested in every +development of their state, preferring those avenues where heroic +endeavor calls forth their best exertion, save in the political arena. + +Joel Wells was recently mentioned as an acceptable candidate for +governor of his adopted state, but declined, owing to the pressure of +personal interests. In urging his nomination, a prominent paper, famed +for its support of state interests, in a leading editorial, paid one of +our heroes the following tribute:-- + +"... What the state needs is a business man in the executive chair. We +are all stockholders in common, yet the ship of state seems adrift, +without chart or compass, pilot or captain. In casting about for a +governor who would fully meet all requirements, one name stands alone. +Joel Wells can give M---- a business administration. Educated in the +rough school of experience, he has fought his way up from a poor boy on +the plains to an enviable leadership in the many industries of the +state. He could bring to the executive office every requirement of the +successful business man, and impart to his administration that mastery +which marks every enterprise of Wells Brothers...." + +The golden age is always with us. If a moral were necessary to adorn +this story, it would be that no poor boy need despair of his chance in +life. The future holds as many prizes as the past. Material nature is +prodigal in its bounty, and whether in the grass under our feet, or in +harnessing the waterfall, we make or mar our success. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 12791.txt or 12791.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/9/12791 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/old/12791.zip b/old/old/12791.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff72ed7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/12791.zip |
