第100章 KANGAROOED(6)

"Anticipating the worst, I had a long talk this morning with Sanders, and he assured me that our cattle would go through any winter without serious loss.He suggested the Little Missouri as a good range, and told me of a hay ranch below the mouth of the Beaver.If it can be bought reasonably, we would have forage for our horses, and the railroad is said to be not over forty miles to the south.If the government can afford to take the risk of wintering cattle in this climate, since there is no other choice, I reckon I'll have to follow suit.Bob and I will take fresh horses and ride through to the Beaver this afternoon, and you fellows follow up leisurely with the cattle.Sanders says the winters are dry and cold, with very little if any snowfall.Well, we're simply up against it; there's no hope of selling this late in the season, and nothing is left ns but to face the music of a Northern winter."As we turned in to ford the Missouri, some one called attention to a cavalry company riding out from their quarters at the post.

We halted a moment, and as the first one entered the road, the second one swung into view, followed by foragewagons.From maps in our possession we knew the southern boundary of the Fort Buford military reservation must be under twenty miles to the south, and if necessary, we could put it behind us that afternoon.But after crossing the river, and when the two troops again came in view, they had dropped into a walk, passing entirely out of sight long before we reached Forrest's camp.

Orders were left with the latter to take the lead and make a short drive that evening, at least far enough to convince observers that we were moving.The different outfits dropped out as their wagons were reached, and when my remuda was sighted, old man Don ordered it brought in for a change of horses.One of the dayherders was at camp getting dinner, and inviting themselves to join him, my employer and my brother helped themselves while their saddles were shifted to two of my well-rested mounts.

Inquiry had been made of all three of the outfits if any ranch had been sighted on the Beaver while crossing that creek, but the only recollection among the forty-odd men was that of Burl Van Vedder, who contended that a dim trail, over which horses had passed that summer, ran down on the south side of the stream.

With this meagre information Lovell and my brother started.Alate dinner over and the herders relieved, we all rode for the nearest eminence which would afford us a view.The cavalry were just going into camp below O'Brien's ranch, their foragetrain in sight, while Forrest's cattle were well bunched and heading south.Sponsilier was evidently going to start, as his team was tied up and the saddle stock in hand, while the herd was crossing over to the eastern side of the Yellowstone.We dismounted and lay around for an hour or so, when the greater portion of the boys left to help in the watering of our herd, the remainder of us doing outpost duty.Forrest had passed out of sight, Sponsilier's wagon and remuda crossed opposite us, going up the valley, followed by his cattle in loose grazing order, and still we loitered on the hill.But towards evening I rode down to where the cavalry was encamped, and before I had conversed very long with the officers, it was clear to me that the shorter our moves the longer it would extend their outing.Before I left the soldier camp, Sanders arrived, and as we started away together, Isent him back to tell the officers to let me know any time they could use half a beef.On reaching our wagon, the boys were just corralling the saddle stock for their night-horses, when Sanders begged me to sell him two which had caught his fancy.I dared not offer them; but remembering the fellow's faithful service in our behalf, and that my employer expected to remember him, I ordered him to pick, with Don Lovell's compliments, any horse in the remuda as a present.