第90章 FORT BUFORD(5)

My position requires that I should have a fair knowledge of beef cattle, and the perquisites of my office in a post of Buford's class enable me to employ the best practical men available to perfect the service.I remember the quality of cattle which you delivered four years ago to me at Fort Randall, when it was a six-company post, yet they were not as fine a lot of beeves as these are.I have always contended that there was nothing too good in my department for the men who uphold the colors of our country, especially on the front line.You have been a soldier yourself and know that I am talking good horsesense, and I want to say to you that whatever the outcome of this dispute may be, if yours are the best cattle, you may count on my support until the drums beat tattoo.The government is liberal and insists on the best; the rank and file are worthy, and yet we don't always get what is ordered and well paid for.Now, remember, comrade, if this difference comes to an issue, I'm right behind you, and we'll stand or be turned down together.""Thank you, Colonel," replied Mr.Lovell."It does seem rather fortunate, my meeting up with a former business acquaintance, and at a time when I need him bad.If I am successful in delivering on this Buford award, it will round out, during my fifteen years as a drover, over a hundred thousand cattle that I have sold to the government for its Indian and army departments.There are no secrets in my business; the reason of my success is simple -- my cattle were always there on the appointed day, humanely handled, and generally just a shade better than the specifications.My home country has the cattle for sale; I can tell within two bits a head what it will cost to lay them down here, and it's music to my ear to hear you insist on the best.I agree with you that the firing-line is entitled to special consideration, yet you know that there are ringsters who fatten at the expense of the rank and file.At present I haven't a word to say, but at noon to-morrow I shall tender the post commander at Ford Buford, through his quartermaster, ten thousand beeves, as a sub-contractor on the original award to The Western Supply Company." The post commander, an elderly, white-haired officer, rode over and smilingly said: "Now, look here, my Texas friend, I'm afraid you are borrowing trouble.True enough, there has been a protest made against our receiving your beeves, and I don't mince my words in saying that some hard things have been said about you.But we happen to know something about your reputation and don't give credit for all that is said.Your beeves are an eloquent argument in your favor, and if I were you I wouldn't worry.It is always a good idea in this Western country to make a proviso; and unless the unforeseen happens, the quartermaster's cattle foreman will count your beeves to-morrow afternoon; and for the sake of your company, if we keep you a day or two longer settling up, I don't want to hear you kick.Now, come on and go back with us to the post, as I promised my wife to bring you over to our house this evening.She seems to think that a man from Texas with ten thousand cattle ought to have horns, and I want to show her that she's mistaken.Come on, now, and not a damned word of protest out of you."The military party started on their return, accompanied by Lovell.The civilian attaches followed at a respectful distance, a number of us joining them as far as Sponsilier's camp.There we halted, when Sanders insisted on an explanation of the remarks which had passed between our employer and his.Being once more among his own, he felt no delicacy in asking for information--which he would never think of doing with his superiors.My brother gave him a true version of the situation, but it remained for Dave Sponsilier to add an outline of the opposition herds and outfits.

"With humane treatment," said Dave, "the cattle would have qualified under the specifications.They were bought at Ogalalla, and any of the boys here will tell you that the first one was a good herd.The market was all shot to pieces, and they picked them up at their own price.But the owners didn't have cow-sense enough to handle the cattle, and put one of their own gang over the herds as superintendent.They left Cabin Creek, below Glendive, on the morning of the 10th, and they'll have to travel nearly twenty miles a day to reach here by noon to-morrow.

Sanders, you know that gait will soon kill heavy cattle.The outfits were made up of short-card men and dance-hall ornaments, wild enough to look at, but shy on cattle sabe.Just so they showed up bad and wore a six-shooter, that was enough to win a home with Field and Radcliff.If they reach here on time, I'll gamble there ain't ten horses in the entire outfit that don't carry a nigger brand.And when it comes to the big conversation--well, they've simply got the earth faded."It was nearly sundown when we mounted our horses and separated for the day.Bob Quirk returned to the post with the civilians, while I hastened back to my wagon.I had left orders with Splann to water the herd a second time during the evening and thus insure an easy night in holding the cattle.On my return, they were just grazing out from the river, their front a mile wide, making a pretty picture with the Yellowstone in the background.

But as I sat my horse and in retrospect reviewed my connection with the cattle before me and the prospect of soon severing it, my remuda came over a near-by hill in a swinging trot for their second drink.Levering threw them into the river below the herd, and turning, galloped up to me and breathlessly asked: "Tom, did you see that dust-cloud up the river? Well, the other cattle are coming.The timber cuts off your view from here, besides the sun's gone down, but I watched their signal for half an hour from that second hill yonder.Oh, it's cattle all right; I know the sign, even if they are ten miles away."