第28章 CAMP SUPPLY(4)

But those evening breezes wafted an invitation to come and drink, and our thirsty herd refused to bed down.To add to our predicament, a storm thickened in the west.Realizing that we were confronting the most dangerous night in all my cattle experience, I ordered every man into the saddle.The remuda and team were taken in charge by the wrangler and cook, and going from man to man, I warned them what the consequences would be if we lost the herd during the night, and the cattle reached the creek.

The cattle surged and drifted almost at will, for we were compelled to hold them loose to avoid milling.Before ten o'clock the lightning was flickering overhead and around us, revealing acres of big beeves, which in an instant might take fright, and then, God help us.But in that night of trial a mercy was extended to the dumb brutes in charge.A warm rain began falling, first in a drizzle, increasing after the first hour, and by midnight we could hear the water slushing under our horses' feet.

By the almost constant flashes of lightning we could see the cattle standing as if asleep, in grateful enjoyment of the sheeting downpour.As the night wore on, our fears of a stampede abated, for the buffalo wallows on the mesa filled, and water was on every hand.The rain ceased before dawn, but owing to the saturated condition underfoot, not a hoof lay down during the night, and when the gray of morning streaked the east, what a sense of relief it brought us.The danger had passed.

Near noon that day, and within a few miles of the North Fork, we rounded an alkaline plain in which this deadly creek had its source.Under the influence of the season, alkali had oozed up out of the soil until it looked like an immense lake under snow.

The presence of range cattle in close proximity to this creek, for we were in the Cherokee Strip, baffled my reasoning; but the next day we met a range-rider who explained that the present condition of the stream was unheard of before, and that native cattle had instinct enough to avoid it.He accounted for its condition as due to the dry season, there being no general rains sufficient to flood the alkaline plain and thoroughly flush the creek.In reply to an inquiry as to the ownership of the unfortunate herds, he informed me that there were three, one belonging to Bob Houston, another to Major Corouthers, and the third to a man named Murphy, the total loss amounting to about two thousand cattle.

>From this same range-man we also learned our location.Camp Supply lay up the North Fork some sixty miles, while a plain trail followed up the first bottom of the river.Wishing to avoid, if possible, intersecting the western trail south of Dodge, the next morning I left the herd to follow up, and rode into Camp Supply before noon.Lovell had sighted me a mile distant, and after a drink at the sutler's bar, we strolled aside for a few minutes' chat.Once I had informed him of the locality of the herd and their condition, he cautioned me not to let my business be known while in the post.After refreshing the inner man, my employer secured a horse and started with me on my return.As soon as the flag over Supply faded out of sight in our rear, we turned to the friendly shade of the timber on the North Fork and dismounted.I felt that the precaution exercised by the drover was premonitory of some revelation, and before we arose from the cottonwood log on which we took seats, the scales had fallen from my eyes and the atmosphere of mystery cleared.

"Tom," said my employer, "I am up against a bad proposition.I am driving these Buford cattle, you understand, on a sub-contract.Iwas the second lowest bidder with the government, and no sooner was the award made to The Western Supply Company than they sent an agent who gave me no peace until they sublet their contract.

Unfortunately for me, when the papers were drawn, my regular attorney was out of town, and I was compelled to depend on a stranger.After the articles were executed, I submitted the matter to my old lawyer; he shook his head, arguing that a loophole had been left open, and that I should have secured an assignment of the original contract.After studying the matter over, we opened negotiations to secure a complete relinquishment of the award.But when I offered the company a thousand dollars over and above what they admitted was their margin, and they refused it, I opened my eyes to the true situation.If cattle went up, I was responsible and would have to fill my contract; if they went down, the company would buy in the cattle and I could go to hell in a hand-basket for all they cared.Their bond to the government does me no good, and beyond that they are irresponsible.Beeves have broken from four to five dollars a head, and unless I can deliver these Buford herds on my contract, they will lose me fifty thousand dollars.""Have you any intimation that they expect to buy in other cattle?" I inquired.

"Yes.I have had a detective in my employ ever since my suspicions were aroused.There are two parties in Dodge this very minute with the original contract, properly assigned, and they are looking for cattle to fill it.That's why I'm stopping here and lying low.I couldn't explain it to you sooner, but you understand now why I drove those Buford herds in different road brands.Tom, we're up against it, and we've got to fight the devil with fire.Henceforth your name will be Tom McIndoo, your herd will be the property of the Marshall estate, and their agent, my detective, will be known as Charles Siringo.Any money or supplies you may need in Dodge, get in the usual form through the firm of Wright, Beverly & Co.--they understand.Hold your herd out south on Mulberry, and Siringo will have notice and be looking for you, or you can find him at the Dodge House.I've sent a courier to Fort Elliott to meet Dave and Quince, and once I see them, I'll run up to Ogalalla and wait for you.Now, until further orders, remember you never knew a man by the name of Don Lovell, and by all means don't forget to use what wits Nature gave you."