The strangers said little, but were amused at the lightness of our dinner chat.I could see at a glance that they were not cowmen.They were impatient to see the cattle; and when dinner was over, I explained to them that the men on herd would be relieved for dinner by those in camp, and orders would be given, if it was their wish, to throw the cattle compactly together.To this Siringo objected."No, Mac," said he, "that isn't the right way to show beeves.Here, Morg, listen to me; I'm foreman for the time being.When you relieve the other lads, edge in your cattle from an ordinary loose herd until you have them on two or three hundred acres.Then we can slowly drive through them for an hour or so, or until these gentlemen are satisfied.They're not wild, are they, Mac?"I assured every one that the cattle were unusually gentle; that we had not had a run so far, but urged caution in approaching them with a conveyance.As soon as the relief started, I brought in the livery team off picket, watered, and harnessed them into the vehicle.It was my intention to accompany them on horseback, but Siringo hooted at the idea, and Mr.Radcliff and I occupied the back seat, puffing splendid cigars.We met the relieved men coming in, who informed us that the herd was just over the hill on the south side of the creek.On reaching the gentle rise, there below us grazed the logy, lazy beeves, while the boys quietly rode round, silently moving them together as instructed.
Siringo drove to their lead, and halting, we allowed the cattle to loiter past us on either side of the conveyance.It was an easy herd to show, for the pounds avoirdupois were there.
Numerous big steers, out of pure curiosity, came up near the vehicle and innocently looked at us as if expecting a dole or sweetmeat.A snap of the finger would tarn them, showing their rounded buttocks, and they would rejoin the guard of honor.If eyes could speak, the invitation was timidly extended, "Look at me, Mr.Buyer." We allowed the herd to pass by us, then slowly circled entirely around them, and finally drove back and forth through them for nearly two hours, when the prospective buyers expressed themselves as satisfied.
But the fiscal agent was not.Calling two of the boys, he asked for the loan of their horses and insisted that the buyers ride the cattle over and thoroughly satisfy themselves on the brands.
The boys gladly yielded, and as Mr.Field and Mr.Radcliff mounted to ride away, the detective halted them long enough to say: "Now, gentlemen, I wish to call your attention to the fact that over one half the herd are in the single Marshall ranch brand.There are also some five hundred head in the '8=8,' that being an outside ranch, but belonging to the estate.I am informed that the remainder of nearly a thousand were turned in by neighboring ranchmen in making up the herd, and you'll find those in various mixed brands.If there's a hoof among them not in the 'Open A' road, we'll cut them out for fear of trouble to the buyer.I never sold a man cattle in my life who wasn't my customer ever afterward.You gentlemen are strangers to me; and for that reason I conceal nothing.Now look them over carefully, and keep a sharp lookout for strays--cattle not in the road brand."I knew there were about twenty strays in the herd, and informed Siringo to that effect, but the cattle buyers noticed only two, a red and a roan, which again classed them as inexperienced men among cattle.We returned to camp, not a word being said about trading, when the buyers suggested returning to town.Siringo looked at his watch, asked if there was anything further they wished to see or know, and expressed himself like a true Texan, "that there was ample time." I was the only one who had alighted, and as they started to drive away, I said to Siringo: "Charley, let me talk to you a minute first.You see how I'm situated here--too many neighbors.I'm going to ride north of town to-morrow, and if I can find a good camp on Saw Log, why I'll move over.We are nearly out of supplies, anyhow, and the wagon can go by town and load up.There's liable to be a mix-up here some night on the Mulberry, and I'd rather be excused than present.""That's all right, Mac; that's just what I want you to do.If we trade, we'll make the deal within a day or two, and if not you can start right on for Ogalalla.I've been selling cattle the last few years to the biggest feeders in Nebraska, and I'm not a little bit afraid of placing those 'Open A's.' About four months full feed on corn will fit those steers to go to any market.Drop into town on your way back from the Saw Log to-morrow."That evening my brother Bob rode into camp.He had seen our employer at Supply, and accordingly understood the situation.The courier had returned from Fort Elliott and reported his mission successful; he had met both Forrest and Sponsilier.The latter had had a slight run in the Panhandle during a storm, losing a few cattle, which he recovered the next day.For fear of a repetition, Forrest had taken the lead thereafter, and was due at Supply within a day or two.Flood and Priest had passed Abilene, Texas, in safety, but no word had reached our employer since, and it was believed that they had turned eastward and would come up the Chisholm Trail.Bob reported the country between Abilene and Doan's Crossing as cut into dust and barren of sustenance, many weak cattle having died in crossing the dry belt.But the most startling news, seriously disturbing us both, was that Archie Tolleston was stationed at Doan's Crossing on Red River as a trail-cutter.He had come up from the south to Wichita Falls by train with trail cattle, and finding no opening as a foreman, had accepted the position of inspector for some Panhandle cattle companies.He and Bob had had a friendly chat, and Archie admitted that it was purely his own hot-headedness which prevented his being one of Lovell's foremen on the present drive.
