the outlet-第58章

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gauntlets；　while　two　conveyances　from　a　livery　in　town　stood　waiting　to　convey　the　contractors　and　their　legal　representatives。　Our　employer　and　his　counsel　were　on　hand；　awaiting　the　start；　when　the　quartermaster　and　his　outfit　led　off。　There　was　some　delay　among　the　officers　over　the　change　of　a　horse；　which　had　shown　lameness；　while　the　ringsters　were　all　seated　and　waiting　in　their　vehicles。　Since　none　of　us　knew　the　trail　to　Alkali　Lake；　some　one　suggested　that　we　follow　up　the　quartermaster　and　allow　the　military　and　conveyances　to　go　by　the　wagon…road。　But　Lovell　objected；　and　ordered　me　forward　to　notice　the　trail　and　course；　as　the　latter　was　a　cut…off　and　much　nearer　than　by　road。　I　rode　leisurely　past　the　two　vehicles；　carefully　scanning　every　face；　when　Mr。　Field　recognized　and　attempted　to　halt　me；　but　I　answered　him　with　a　contemptuous　look　and　rode　on。　Instantly　from　the　rigs　came　cries　of　〃Stop　that　man！〃　〃Halt　that　cowboy！〃　etc。；　when　an　orderly　stepped　in　front　of　my　horse　and　I　reined　in。　But　the　shouting　and　my　detention　were　seen　and　heard；　and　the　next　instant；　led　by　Mike　Sutton；　our　men　dashed　up；　scaring　the　teams；　overturning　both　of　the　conveyances；　and　spilling　their　occupants　on　the　dusty　ground。　I　admit　that　we　were　a　hard…looking　lot　of　cow…hands；　our　employer's　grievance　was　our　own；　and　just　for　an　instant　there　was　a　blue；　sulphuric　tinge　in　the　atmosphere　as　we　accented　our　protest。　The　congressman　scrambled　to　his　feet；　sputtering　a　complaint　to　the　post　commander；　and　when　order　was　finally　restored；　the　latter　coolly　said：

〃Well；　Mr。　Y…；　when　did　you　assume　command　at　Fort　Buford？　Any　orders　that　you　want　given；　while　on　this　military　reservation；　please　submit　them　to　the　proper　authorities；　and　if　just；　they　will　receive　attention。　What　right　have　you　or　any　of　your　friends　to　stop　a　man　without　due　process？　I　spent　several　hours　with　these　men　a　few　days　ago　and　found　them　to　my　liking。　I　wish　we　could　recruit　the　last　one　of　them　into　our　cavalry。　But　if　you　are　afraid；　I'll　order　out　a　troop　of　horse　to　protect　you。　Shall　I？〃

〃I'm　not　at　all　afraid；〃　replied　Mr。　Raddiff；　〃but　feel　under　obligation　to　protect　my　counsel。　If　you　please；　Colonel。〃

〃Captain　O'Neill；〃　said　the　commandant；　turning　to　that　officer；　〃order　out　your　troop　and　give　these　conveyances　ample　protection　from　now　until　their　return　from　this　cattle　inspection。　Mr。　Lovell；　if　you　wish　to　be　present；　please　ride　on　ahead　with　your　men。　The　rest　of　us　will　proceed　at　once；　and　as　soon　as　the　escort　arrives；　these　vehicles　will　bring　up　the　rear。〃

As　we　rode　away；　the　bugles　were　calling　the　troopers。

〃That's　the　way　to　throw　the　gaff　into　them；〃　said　Sutton；　when　we　had　ridden　out　of　hearing。　〃Every　time　they　bluff；　call　their　hand；　and　they'll　soon　get　tired　running　blazers。　I　want　to　give　notice　right　now　that　the　first　mark　of　disrespect　shown　me；　by　client　or　attorney；　I'll　slap　him　then　and　there；　I　don't　care　if　he　is　as　big　as　a　giant。　We　are　up　against　a　hard　crowd；　and　we　want　to　meet　them　a　little　over　halfway；　even　on　a　hint　or　insinuation。　When　it　comes　to　buffaloing　the　opposite　side；　that's　my　long　suit。　The　history　of　this　ease　shows　that　the　opposition　has　no　regard　for　the　rights　of　others；　and　it　is　up　to　us　to　try　and　teach　them　that　a　love　of　justice　is　universal。　Personally；　I'm　nothing　but　a　frontier　lawyer　from　Dodge；　but　I'm　the　equal　of　any　lobbyist　that　ever　left　Washington　City。〃

Alkali　Lake　was　some　little　distance　from　the　post。　All　three　of　the　herds　were　holding　beyond　it；　a　polite　request　having　reached　them　to　vacate　the　grazing…ground　of　the　cavafry　horses。　Lovell　still　insisted　that　we　stand　aloof　and　give　the　constituted　authorities　a　free；　untrammeled　hand　until　the　inspection　was　over。　The　quartermaster　and　his　assistants　halted　on　approaching　the　first　herd；　and　giving　them　a　wide　berth；　we　rode　for　the　nearest　good　point　of　observation。　The　officers　galloped　up　shortly　afterward；　reining　in　for　a　short　conversation；　but　entering　the　first　herd　before　the　arrival　of　the　conveyances　and　their　escort。　When　the　latter　party　arrived；　the　nearest　one　of　the　three　herds　had　been　passed　upon；　but　the　contractors　stood　on　the　carriage　seats　and　attempted　to　look　over　the　cordon　of　troopers；　formed　into　a　hollow　square；　which　surrounded　them。　The　troop　were　mounted　on　chestnut　horses；　making　a　pretty　sight；　and　I　think　they　enjoyed　the　folly　and　humor　of　the　situation　fully　as　much　as　we　did。　On　nearing　the　second　herd；　we　were　met　by　the　other　boys；　who　had　given　the　cattle　a　thorough　going…over　and　reported　finding　two　〃Circle　Dot〃　beeves　among　the　opposition　steers。　The　chances　are　that　they　had　walked　off　a　bed…ground　some　night　while　holding　at　Ogalalla　and　had　been　absorbed　into　another　herd　before　morning。　My　brother　announced　his　intention　of　taking　them　back　with　us；　when　Sponsilier　taunted　him　with　the　fact　that　there　might　be　objections　offered。

〃That'll　be　all　right；　Davy；〃　replied　Bob；　〃it'll　take　a　bigger　and　better　outfit　than　these　pimps　and　tin…horns　to　keep　me　from　claiming　my　own。　You　just　watch　and　notice　if　those　two　steers　don't　go　back　with　Forrest。　Why；　they　had　the　nerve　to　question　our　right　even　to　look　them　over。　It　must　be　a　trifle　dull　with　the　GIRLS　down　there　in　Ogalalla　when　all　these　'babies'　have　to　turn　out　at　work　or　go　hungry。〃

Little　time　was　lost　in　inspecting　the　last　herd。　The　cattle　were　thrown　entirely　too　close　together　to　afford　much　opportunity　in　looking　them　over；　and　after　riding　through　them　a　few　times；　the　officers　rode　away　for　a　consultation。　We　had　kept　at　a　distance　from　the　convoy；　perfectly　contented　so　long　as　the　opposition　were　prisoners　of　their　own　choosing。　Captain　O'Neill　evidently　understood　the　wishes　of　his　superior　officer；　and　never　once　were　his　charges　allowed　within　hailing　distance　of　the　party　of　inspection。　As　far　as　exerting　any　influence　was　concerned；　for　that　matter；　all　of　us　might　have　remained　back　at　the　post　and　received　the　report　on　the　commander's　return。　Yet　there　was　a　tinge　of　uncertainty　as　to　the　result；　and　all　concerned　wanted　to　hear　it　at　the　earliest　moment。　The　inspection　party　did　not　keep　us　long　in　waiting；　for　after　a　brief　conference　they　turned　and　rode　for　the　contractors　under　escort。　We　rode　forward；　the　troop　closed　up　in　close　formation　about　the　two　vehicles；　and　the　general　tension　rose　to　that　of　rigidity。　We　halted　quietly　within　easy　hearing　distance；　and　without　noticing　us　the　commandant　addressed　himself　to　the　occupants　of　the　conveyances；　who　were　now　standing　on　the　seats。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　he；　with　military　austerity；　〃the　quality　and　condition　of　your　cattle　places　them　beyond　our　consideration。　Beef　intended　for　delivery　at　this　post　must　arrive　here　with　sufficient　flesh　to　withstand　the　rigors　of　our　winter。　When　possible　to　secure　them；　we　prefer　Northern　wintered　cattle；　but　if　they　are　not　available；　and　we　are　compelled　to　receive　Southern　ones；　they　must　be　of　the　first　quality　in　conformation　and　flesh。

It　now　becomes　my　duty　to　say　to　you　that　your　beeves　are　rough；　have　been　over…driven；　are　tender…footed　and　otherwise　abused；　and；　having　in　view　the　best　interests　of　the　service；　with　the　concurrence　of　my　associates；　I　decline　them。〃

The　decision　was　rendered　amid　breathless　silence。　Not　a　word　of　exultation　escaped　one　of　our　party；　but　the　nervous　strain　rather　intensified。

Mr。　Y；　the　congressman；　made　the　first　move。　Quietly　alighting　from　the　vehicle；　he　held　a　whispered　conversation　with　his　associates；　very　composedly　turned　to　the　commandant；　and　said：

〃No　doubt　you　are　aware　that　there　are　higher　authorities　than　the　post　commander　and　quartermaster　of　Fort　Buford。　This　higher　court　to　which　I　refer　saw　fit　to　award　a　contract　for　five　million　pounds　of　beef　to　be　delivered　at　this　post　on　foot。　Any　stipulations　inserted　or　omitted　in　that　article；　the　customary　usages　of　the　War　Department　would　govern。　If　you　will　kindly　look　at　the　original　contract；　a　copy　of　which　is　in　your　possession；　you　will　notice　that　nothing　is　said　about　the　quality　of　the　cattle；　just　so　the　pounds　avoirdupois　are　there。　The　government