the outlet-第30章

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ibly　affected　at　the　graveside；　and　in　order　to　pacify　them；　I　suggested　that　we　unload　the　wagon　of　supplies　and　haul　up　a　load　of　rock　from　a　near…by　outcropping　ledge。　Pablo　had　fallen　like　a　good　soldier　at　his　post；　I　urged；　and　it　was　befitting　that　his　comrades　should　mark　his　last　resting…place。　To　our　agreeable　surprise　the　corporal　hurrahed　his　men　and　the　wagon　was　unloaded　in　a　jiffy　and　dispatched　after　a　load　of　rock。　On　its　return；　we　spent　an　hour　in　decorating　the　mound；　during　which　time　lament　was　expressed　for　the　future　of　Pablo's　soul。　Knowing　the　almost　universal　faith　of　this　alien　race；　as　we　stood　around　the　finished　mound；　Cederdall；　who　was　Catholic　born；　called　for　contributions　to　procure　the　absolution　of　the　Church。　The　owner　of　the　cattle　was　the　first　to　respond；　and　with　the　aid　of　my　boys　and　myself；　augmented　later　by　the　vaqueros；　a　purse　of　over　fifty　dollars　was　raised　and　placed　in　charge　of　the　corporal；　to　be　expended　in　a　private　mass　on　their　return　to　San　Antonio。　Meanwhile　the　herd　and　saddle　stock　had　started；　and　reloading　the　wagon；　we　cast　a　last　glance　at　the　little　mound　which　made　a　new　landmark　on　the　old　trail。

The　owner　of　the　cattle　was　elated　over　the　restoration　of　order。　My　contempt　for　him；　however；　had　not　decreased；　the　old　maxim　of　fools　rushing　in　where　angels　feared　to　tread　had　only　been　again　exemplified。　The　inferior　races　may　lack　in　courage　and　leadership；　hut　never　in　cunning　and　craftiness。　This　alien　outfit　had　detected　some　weakness　in　the　armor　of　their　new　employer；　and　when　the　emergency　arose；　were　ready　to　take　advantage　of　the　situation。　Yet　under　an　old　patron；　these　same　men　would　never　dare　to　mutiny　or　assert　themselves。　That　there　were　possible　breakers　ahead　for　this　cowman　there　was　no　doubt；　for　every　day　that　those　Mexicans　traveled　into　a　strange　country；　their　Aztec　blood　would　yearn　for　their　Southern　home。　And　since　the　unforeseen　could　not　be　guarded　against；　at　the　first　opportunity　I　warned　the　stranger　that　it　was　altogether　too　soon　to　shout。　To　his　anxious　inquiries　I　replied　that　his　very　presence　with　the　herd　was　a　menace　to　its　successful　handling　by　the　Mexican　outfit。　He　should　throw　all　responsibility　on　the　foreman；　or　take　charge　himself；　which　was　impossible　now；　for　an　outfit　which　will　sulk　and　mutiny　once　will　do　so　again　under　less　provocation。　When　my　curtain　lecture　was　ended；　the　owner　authorized　me　to　call　his　outfit　together　and　give　them　such　instructions　as　I　saw　fit。

We　sighted　our　cattle　but　once　during　the　afternoon。　On　locating　the　herd；　two　of　my　boys　left　us　to　return；　hearing　the　message　that　the　rest　of　us　might　not　put　in　an　appearance　before　morning。　All　during　the　evening；　I　made　it　a　point　to　cultivate　the　acquaintance　of　several　vaqueros；　and　learned　the　names　of　their　master　and　rancho。　Taking　my　cue　from　the　general　information　gathered；　when　we　encamped　for　the　night　and　all　hands；　with　the　exception　of　those　on　herd；　had　finished　catching　horses；　I　attracted　their　attention　by　returning　the　six…shooter　taken　from　their　corporal　at　noontime。　Commanding　attention；　in　their　mother　tongue　I　addressed　myself　to　the　Mexican　foreman。

〃Felipe　Esquibil；〃　said　I；　looking　him　boldly　in　the　face；　〃you　were　foreman　of　this　herd　from　Zavalla　County；　Texas；　to　the　Arkansaw　River；　and　brought　your　cattle　through　without　loss　or　accident。

The　herd　changed　owners　at　Dodge；　but　with　the　understanding　that　you　and　your　vaqueros　were　to　accompany　the　cattle　to　this　gentleman's　ranch　in　the　upper　country。　An　accident　happens；　and　because　you　are　not　in　full　control；　you　shift　the　responsibility　and　play　the　baby　act　by　wanting　to　go　home。　Had　the　death　of　one　of　your　men　occurred　below　the　river；　and　while　the　herd　was　still　the　property　of　Don　Dionisio　of　Rancho　Los　Olmus；　you　would　have　lost　your　own　life　before　abandoning　your　cattle。　Now；　with　the　consent　and　approval　of　the　new　owner；　you　are　again　invested　with　full　charge　of　this　herd　until　you　arrive　at　the　Platte　River。　A　new　outfit　will　relieve　you　on　reaching　Ogalalla；　and　then　you　will　he　paid　your　reckoning　and　all　go　home。　In　your　immediate　rear　are　five　herds　belonging　to　my　employer；　and　I　have　already　sent　warning　to　them　of　your　attempted　desertion。　A　fortnight　or　less　will　find　you　relieved；　and　the　only　safety　in　store　for　you　is　to　go　forward。　Now　your　employer　is　going　to　my　camp　for　the　night；　and　may　not　see　you　again　before　this　herd　reaches　the　Platte。　Remember；　Don　Felipe；　that　the　opportunity　is　yours　to　regain　your　prestige　as　a　corporaland　you　need　it　after　to…day's　actions。　What　would　Don　Dionisio　say　if　he　knew　the　truth？　And　do　you　ever　expect　to　face　your　friends　again　at　Los　Olmus？　From　a　trusted　corporal　back　to　a　sheep…shearer　would　be　your　rewardand　justly。〃

Cederdall；　Wolf；　and　myself　shook　hands　with　several　vaqueros；　and　mounting　our　horses　we　started　for　my　camp；　taking　the　stranger　with　us。　Only　once　did　he　offer　any　protest　to　going。　〃Very　well；　then；〃　replied　GG；　unable　to　suppress　his　contempt；　〃go　right　back。　I'll　gamble　that　you　sheathe　a　knife　before　morning　if　you　do。　It　strikes　me　you　don't　sabe　Mexicans　very　much。〃

Around　the　camp…fire　that　night；　the　day's　work　was　reviewed。　My　rather　drastic　treatment　of　the　corporal　was　fully　commented　upon　and　approved　by　the　outfit；　yet　provoked　an　inquiry　from　the　irrepressible　Parent。　Turning　to　the　questioner；　Burl　Van　Vedder　said　in　dove…like　tones：　〃Yes；　dear；　slapped　him　just　to　remind　the　varmint　that　his　feet　were　on　the　earth；　and　that　pawing　the　air　and　keening　didn't　do　any　good。　Remember；　love；　there　was　the　living　to　be　fed；　the　dead　to　bury；　and　the　work　in　hand　required　every　man　to　do　his　duty。　Now　was　there　anything　else　you'd　like　to　know？〃



CHAPTER　XII。　MARSHALING　THE　FORCES

Both　herds　had　watered　in　the　Smoky　during　the　afternoon。　The　stranger's　cattle　were　not　compelled　to　go　down　to　the　crossing；　but　found　an　easy　passage　several　miles　above　the　regular　ford。　After　leaving　the　river；　both　herds　were　grazed　out　during　the　evening；　and　when　darkness　fell　we　were　not　over　three　miles　apart；　one　on　either　side　of　the　trail。　The　Wyoming　cowman　spent　a　restless　night；　and　early　the　next　morning　rode　to　the　nearest　elevation　which　would　give　him　a　view　of　his　cattle。　Within　an　hour　after　sun…up　he　returned；　elated　over　the　fact　that　his　herd　was　far　in　the　lead　of　ours；　camp　being　already　broken；　while　we　were　only　breakfasting。　Matters　were　working　out　just　as　I　expected。　The　mixed　herd　under　the　Mexican　corporal；　by　moving　early　and　late；　could　keep　the　lead　of　our　beeves；　and　with　the　abundance　of　time　at　my　disposal　we　were　in　no　hurry。　The　Kansas　Pacific　Railroad　was　but　a　few　days'　drive　ahead；　and　I　advised　our　guest　to　take　the　train　around　to　Ogalalla　and　have　a　new　outfit　all　ready　to　relieve　the　aliens　immediately　on　their　arrival。　Promising　to　take　the　matter　under　consideration；　he　said　nothing　further　for　several　days；　his　cattle　in　the　mean　time　keeping　a　lead　of　from　five　to　ten　miles。

The　trail　crossed　the　railroad　at　a　switch　east　of　Grinnell。　I　was　naturally　expecting　some　word　from　Don　Lovell；　and　it　was　my　intention　to　send　one　of　the　boys　into　that　station　to　inquire　for　mail。　There　was　a　hostelry　at　Grinnell；　several　stores　and　a　livery　stable；　all　dying　an　easy　death　from　the　blight　of　the　arid　plain；　the　town　profiting　little　or　nothing　from　the　cattle　trade。　But　when　within　a　half…day's　drive　of　the　railway；　on　overtaking　the　herd　after　dinner；　there　was　old　man　Don　talking　to　the　boys　on　herd。　The　cattle　were　lying　down；　and　rather　than　disturb　them；　he　patiently　bided　his　time　until　they　had　rested　and　arose　to　resume　their　journey。　The　old　man　was　feeling　in　fine　spirits；　something　unusual；　and　declined　my　urgent　invitation　to　go　back　to　the　wagon　and　have　dinner。　I　noticed　that　he　was　using　his　own　saddle；　though　riding　a　livery　horse；　and　in　the　mutual　inquiries　which　were　exchanged；　learned　that　he　had　arrived　at　Grinnell　but　a　few　days　before。　He　had　left　Camp　Supply　immediately　after　Forrest　and　Sponsilier　passed　that　point；　and　until　Siringo　came　in　with　his　report；　he　had　spent　the　time　about　detectiv