第22章 RED RIVER STATION(2)

"Instantly, out of the cover of some timber on the creek a quarter above, came about twenty young bucks, mounted, and yelling like demons.When they came up, they began circling around the fire and wagon.I was sitting on an empty corn-crate by the fire.One young buck, seeing that I was not scaring to suit him, unslung a carbine as he rode, and shot into the fire before me.The bullet threw fire and ashes all over me, and Ijumped about ten feet, which suited them better.They circled around for several minutes, every one uncovering a carbine, and they must have fired a hundred and fifty shots into the fire.In fact they almost shot it out, scattering the fire around so that it came near burning up the bedding of our outfit.I was scared thoroughly by this time.If it was possible for me to have had fits, I'd have had one sure.The air seemed full of coals of fire and ashes.I got good practical insight into what hell's like.Iwas rustling the rolls of bedding out of the circle of fire, expecting every moment would be my last.It's a wonder I wasn't killed.Were they throwing lead? Well, I should remark! You see the ground was not frozen around the fire, and the bullets buried themselves in the soft soil.

"After they had had as much fun as they wanted, the leader gave a yell and they all circled the other way once, and struck back into the timber.Some of them had brought up the decoy Indian's horse when they made the dash at first, and he suddenly turned as wild as a Cheyenne generally gets.When the others were several hundred yards away, he turned his horse, rode back some little distance, and attracted my attention by holding out the Winchester.From his horse he laid it carefully down on the ground, whirled his pony, and rode like a scared wolf after the others.I could hear their yells for miles, as they made for their encampment over on the North Fork.As soon as I got the fire under control, I went out and got the carbine.It was empty;the Indian had used its magazine in the general hilarity.That may be an Indian's style of fun, but I failed to see where there was any in it for me."The cook threw a handful of oily fish-bones on the fire, causing it to flame up for a brief moment.With the exception of Wayne Outeault, who was lying prone on the ground, the men were smoking and sitting Indian fashion around the fire.After rolling awhile uneasily, Outeault sat up and remarked, "I feel about half sick.

Eat too much? Don't you think it.Why, I only ate seven or eight of those fish, and that oughtn't to hurt a baby.There was only half a dozen hard-boiled eggs to the man, and I don't remember of any of you being so generous as to share yours with me.Those few plates of prunes that I ate for dessert wouldn't hurt nobody--they're medicine to some folks.Unroll our bed, pardner, and I'll thrash around on it awhile."Several trail stories of more or less interest were told, when Runt Pickett, in order to avoid the smoke, came over and sat down between Burl Van Vedder and me.He had had an experience, and instantly opened on us at short range."Speaking of stampedes,"said Runt, "reminds me of a run I was in, and over which I was paid by my employer a very high compliment.My first trip over the trail, as far north as Dodge, was in '78.The herd sold next day after reaching there, and as I had an old uncle and aunt living in middle Kansas, I concluded to run down and pay them a short visit.So I threw away all my trail togs--well, they were worn out, anyway--and bought me a new outfit complete.Yes, Ieven bought button shoes.After visiting a couple of weeks with my folks, I drifted back to Dodge in the hope of getting in with some herd bound farther north--I was perfectly useless on a farm.

On my return to Dodge, the only thing about me that indicated a cow-hand was my Texas saddle and outfit, but in toggery, in my visiting harness, I looked like a rank tenderfoot.

"Well, boys, the first day I struck town I met a through man looking for hands.His herd had just come in over the Chisholm Trail, crossing to the western somewhere above.He was disgusted with his outfit, and was discharging men right and left and hiring new ones to take their places.I apologized for my appearance, showed him my outfit, and got a job cow-punching with this through man.He expected to hold on sale a week or two, when if unsold he would drift north to the Platte.The first week that I worked, a wet stormy night struck us, and before ten o'clock we lost every hoof of cattle.I was riding wild after little squads of cattle here and there, guided by flashes of lightning, when the storm finally broke.Well, there it was midnight, and Ididn't have A HOOF OF CATTLE to hold and no one to help me if Ihad.The truth is, I was lost.Common horse-sense told me that;but where the outfit or wagon was was anybody's guess.The horses in my mount were as good as worthless; worn out, and if you gave one free rein he lacked the energy to carry you back to camp.Iploughed around in the darkness for over an hour, but finally came to a sudden stop on the banks of the muddy Arkansaw.Right there I held a council of war with myself, the decision of which was that it was at least five miles to the wagon.

"After I'd prowled around some little time, a bright flash of lightning revealed to me an old deserted cabin a few rods below.

To this shelter I turned without even a bid, unsaddled my horse and picketed him, and turned into the cabin for the night.Early the next morning I was out and saddled my horse, and the question was, Which way is camp? As soon as the sun rose clearly, I got my bearings.By my reasoning, if the river yesterday was south of camp, this morning the wagon must be north of the river, so Iheaded in that direction.Somehow or other I stopped my horse on the first little knoll, and looking back towards the bottom, Isaw in a horseshoe which the river made a large bunch of cattle.