I led out with "The Apple" cattle, throwing onto the trail for the first ten miles, which put me well in advance of Bob Quirk and Forrest, who were in my immediate rear.A well-known divide marked the halfway between the two waters, and I was determined to camp on it that night.It was fully nine o'clock when we reached it, Don Lovell in the mean time having overtaken us.This watershed was also recognized as the line of Keith County, an organized community, and the next morning expectation ran high as to what the day would bring forth.Lovell insisted on staying with the lead herd, and pressing him in as horse-wrangler, I sent him in the lead with the remuda and wagon, while Levering fell into the swing with the trailing cattle.A breakfast halt was made fully seven miles from the bed-ground, a change of mounts, and then up divide, across mesa, and down slope at the foot of which ran the Platte.Meanwhile several wayfaring men were met, but in order to avoid our dust, they took the right or unbranded side of our herd on meeting, and passed on their way without inquiry.Near noon a party of six men, driving a number of loose mounts and a pack-horse, were met, who also took the windward side.Our dragmen learned that they were on their way to Dodge to receive a herd of range horses.But when about halfway down the slope towards the river, two mounted men were seen to halt the remuda and wagon for a minute, and then continue on southward.Billy Tupps was on the left point, myself next in the swing; and as the two horsemen turned out on the branded side, their identity was suspected.In reply to some inquiry, Tupps jerked his thumb over his shoulder as much as to say, "Next man."I turned out and met the strangers, who had already noted the road brand, and politely answered every question.One of the two offered me a cigar, and after lighting it, I did remember hearing one of my boys say that among the herds lying over on the head of Stinking Water was an "Open A" and "Drooping T," but I was unable to recall the owner's or foremen's names.Complimenting me on the condition of my beeves, and assuring me that I would have time to water my herd and reach the mesa beyond Ogalalla, they passed on down the column of cattle.
I had given the cook an order on an outfitting house for new supplies, saying I would call or send a draft in the morning.Anew bridge had been built across the Platte opposite the town, and when nearing the river, the commissary turned off the trail for it, but the horse-wrangler for the day gave the bridge a wide berth and crossed the stream a mile below the village.The width of the river was a decided advantage in watering a thirsty herd, as it gave the cattle room to thrash around, filling its broad bed for fully a half mile.Fortunately there were few spectators, but I kept my eye on the lookout for a certain faction, being well disguised with dust and dirt and a month's growth of beard.
As we pushed out of the river and were crossing the tracks below the railroad yards, two other herds were sighted coming down to the water, their remudas having forded above and below our cattle.On scaling the bluffs, we could see the trail south of the Platte Road on which arose a great column of dust.Lovell was waiting with the saddle stock in the hills beyond the town, and on striking the first good grass, the cattle fell to grazing while we halted to await the arrival of the wagon.The sun was still several hours high, and while waiting for our commissary to come up, my employer and myself rode to the nearest point of observation to reconnoitre the rear.Beneath us lay the hamlet;but our eyes were concentrated beyond the narrow Platte valley on a dust-cloud which hung midway down the farther slope.As we watched, an occasional breeze wafted the dust aside, and the sinuous outline of a herd creeping forward greeted our vision.
Below the town were two other herds, distinctly separate and filling the river for over a mile with a surging mass of animals, while in every direction cattle dotted the plain and valley.
Turning aside from the panorama before us, my employer said:
"Tom, you will have time to graze out a few miles and camp to the left of the trail.I'll stay here and hurry your wagon forward, and wait for Bob and Quince.That lead herd beyond the river is bound to be Jim's, and he's due to camp on this mesa to-night, so these outfits must give him room.If Dave and Paul are still free to act, they'll know enough to water and camp on the south side of the Platte.I'll stay at Flood's wagon to-night, and you had better send a couple of your boys into town and let them nose around.They'll meet lads from the 'Open A' and 'drooping T'
outfits; and I'll send Jim and Bob in, and by midnight we'll have a report of what's been done.If any one but an officer takes possession of those two herds, it'll put us to the trouble of retaking them.And I think I've got men enough here to do it."
