any of yours.

any of yours. But it strikes me that you had better have those lazy niggers throw your cattle to one side, i called back, as he halted his horse. We did not look backward until we reached the herd then as we turned, one on each side to support the points, it was evident that a clear field would await us on reaching the river. Every horseman in the black outfit was pushing cattle with might and main, to give us a clean cloth at the crossing. The herd forded the washita without incident. I remained on the south bank while the cattle were crossing, and when they were about half over some halfdozen of the darkies rode up and stopped apart, conversing

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outfit. Their stock

outfit. Their stock were scattered over several thousand acres, and when i asked for the boss, a middleaged darky of herculean figure was pointed out as in charge. To my inquiry why he was holding the ford, his answer was that until today the river had been swimming, and now he was waiting for the banks to dry. Ridiculing his flimsy excuse, i kindly yet firmly asked him either to cross or vacate the ford by three oclock that afternoon. Receiving no definite reply, i returned to our herd, which was some five miles in the rear. Beyond the rivers steep, slippery banks and cold water, there was nothing to check a herd. After the noonday halt, the wrangler and myself took our remuda and went

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Until reaching the

Until reaching the washita river, we passed through a delightful country. There were numerous local trails coming into the main one, all of which showed recent use. Abandoned campfires and bedgrounds were to be seen on every hand, silent witnesses of an exodus which was to mark the maximum year in the history of the cattle movement from texas. Several times we saw some evidence of settlement by the natives, but as to the freedom of the country, we were monarchs of all we surveyed. On arriving at the washita, we encountered a number of herds, laboring under the impression that they were waterbound. Immediate entrance at the ford was held by a large herd of young cattle in charge of a negro

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and open sores

and open sores greeted us on every hand myriads of flies added to the misery of the cattle, while in many instances there was evidence of maggots at work on the living animal. Turning from the herd in disgust, we went back to our own, thankful that the rate offered us had been prohibitory. The trials and vexations of the road were mere nothings to be endured, compared to the sights we were then leaving. Even what we first supposed were cattle lying down, were only bedgrounds, the occupants having been humanely relieved by unwaking sleep. Powerless to render any assistance, we trailed away, glad to blot from our sight and memory such scenes of misery and death.

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a day. And

a day. And here i amoh, hell, id rather be on a rockpile with a ball and chain to my foot. Do you see those objects across yonder about two milesin that old grass. Thats where we bedded night before last and forty odd died. We only lost twentytwo last night. Oh, were getting in shape fast. If you think you can hold your breakfast down, just take a ride through mine. No, excuse meive seen them too often already. Several of the boys and myself rode into the herd some little distance, but the sight was enough to turn a copperlined stomach. Scarcely an animal had escaped without more or less injury. Fully one half were minus one or both horns, leaving instead bloody stumps. Broken bones

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falls to the

falls to the river, while these in sight arent able to keep out of the stench of those that croaked between here and the ford. Oh, this shipping is a fine thingfor the railroads. Here ive got to rot all summer with these cattle, just because two of my trains went into the ditch while no other foreman had over one wrecked. And mind you, they paid the freight in advance, and now king and kennedy have brought suit for damages amounting to double the shipping expense. Theyll get it all rightin pork. Id rather have a claim against a nigger than a railroad company. Look at your beeves, slick as weasels, and from the nueces river. Have to hold them in, i reckon, to keep from making twenty miles

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herd greeted our

herd greeted our view, compelling us to veer to the right and intersect the trail sooner than we intended. Keeping a clear halfmile between us, we passed them within an hour and exchanged the compliments of the trail. They proved to be laurel leaf and running w cattle, the very ones for which the international railway agent at the meeting in february had so boastfully shown my employer the application for cars. The foreman was cursing like a stranded pirate over the predicament in which he found himself. He had left santo gertrudo ranch over a month before with a herd of three thousand straight twoyearold steers. But in the shipment of some thirtythree thousand cattle from the two

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sight as they

sight as they grazed forward, their ragged front covering half a mile in width. The rest of the past few days had been a boon to the few tenderfooted ones. The layover had rejuvenated both man and beast. From maps in our possession we knew we were somewhere near the western border of the chickasaw nation, while on our left was the reservation of three blanket tribes of indians. But as far as signs of occupancy were concerned, the country was unmarked by any evidence of civilization. The chisholm cattle trail, which ran from red river to the kansas line, had almost fallen into disuse, owing to encroachments of settlements south of the former and westward on the latter. With the advancement of

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A very respectable

A very respectable gentleman, no doubt but a prince of pure blood, mr. Soloman, is rather a scarce article these days. Not a bit of itwhy there is lots of exiled princes all over this country. They are modest men, you know, like me and having got it into their heads that we dont like royal blood, rather keep the fact of their birth to themselves. As for grouski. Why his history is as familiar to every american who takes any interest in these things, as is the history of poor kossuth. I only say this, madame flamingo, to prove to you that grouski is none of your mock articles. And what is more, i have several times heard him speak most enthusiastically of you.

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but its in

but its in plain view from the bedground, and not over four or five miles away. If i remember rightly, theres a local trail comes in from the south of the wichita river, and joins the chisholm just ahead. And whats more, that herd was there at nine oclock this morning, and they havent moved a peg since. Well, theres two lads out there waiting to be relieved, and you second guard know where the cattle are bedded. Chapter vi. Camp supply in gala spirits we broke camp the next morning. The herd had left the bedground at dawn, and as the outfit rode away to relieve the last guard, every mothers son was singing. The cattle were a refreshing

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appealed to the

appealed to the women in supporting my view. My hostess was absorbed at the time in reading a sensational account of a woman shooting her betrayer. The illustrations covered a whole page, and the girl was simply burning, at short range, the shirt from off her seducer. The old lady was bogged to the saddle skirts in the story, when i interrupted her and inquired, mother, what do you think ought to be done with a man who commits suicide. She lowered the paper just for an instant, and looking over her spectacles at me replied, well, i think any man who would do that ought to be made to support the child. No comment was offered. Our wrangler arose and strolled away from the

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in the churchyard.

in the churchyard. But it seems there was some superstition about permitting a selfmurderer to be buried in the same field as decent folks. It was none of my funeral, and i didnt pay overmuch attention to the matter, but the authorities refused, and they buried him just outside the grounds, in the woods. My host and i discussed the matter at some length. He contended that if the man was not of sound mind, he should have been given his little six feet of earth among the others. A horse salesman has to be a good secondrate talker, and being anxious to show off before the girl, i differed with her father. The argument grew spirited yet friendly, and i

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women folks were

women folks were ravenous for something to read, and each time on my return after selling out, id bring them a whole bundle of illustrated papers and magazines. About my fourth return after more horses,i was mighty near one of the family by that time,when we were all seated around the fire one night, the women poring over the papers and admiring the pictures, the old man inquired what the news was over in the parish where i had recently been. The only thing that i could remember was the suicide of a prominent man. After explaining the circumstances, i went on to say that some little bitterness arose over his burial. Owing to his prominence it was thought permission would be given to bury him

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take me longer.

take me longer. But when possible i always made it a rule to get back to my headquarters to spend sunday. The owner of the canebrake and his wife were a simple couple, and just a shade or two above the arcadians. But they had a daughter who could pass muster, and she took quite a shine to the texashossman, as they called me. I reckon you understand now why i made that headquarters.there were other reasons besides the good pasturage. Well, the girl and her mother both could read, but i have some doubt about the old man on that score. They took no papers, and the nearest approach to a book in the house was an almanac three years old. The

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returned to camp,

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 im situated heretoo many neighbors. Im going to ride north of town tomorrow, and if i can find a good camp on saw log, why ill move over. We are nearly out of supplies, anyhow, and the wagon can go by town and load up. Theres liable to be a mixup here some night on the mulberry, and id

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neighboring ranchmen in

neighboring ranchmen in making up the herd, and youll find those in various mixed brands. If theres a hoof among them not in the open a road, well cut them out for fear of trouble to the buyer. I never sold a man cattle in my life who wasnt 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 strayscattle 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

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I assured every

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

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don lovell, and

don lovell, and by all means dont forget to use what wits nature gave you. Chapter vii. When greek meets greek it was late that night when i reached the herd. Before i parted with my employer we had carefully reviewed the situation in its minutest details. Since the future could not be foreseen, we could only watch and wait. The texan may have his shortcomings, but lack of fidelity to a trust is not one of them, and relying on the metal of my outfit, i at once put them in possession of the facts. At first their simple minds could hardly grasp the enormity of the injustice to our employer, but

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water, yet beyond

water, yet beyond our reach for the day. Keeping the slight divide between us and the creek, we started the herd forward. Since it was impossible to graze them in their thirsty condition, i was determined to move them as far as possible before darkness overtook us. But within an hour we crossed a country trail over which herds had passed on their way northwest, having left the chisholm after crossing the north fork. At the first elevation which would give me a view of the creek, another scene of death and desolation greeted my vision, only a few miles above the first one. Yet from this same hill i could easily trace the meanderings of the creek for miles as it made a half circle in our

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defied the moving

defied the moving herds. On arriving at the cimarron river, in reply to a letter written to my employer on leaving texas behind us, an answer was found awaiting me at red fork. The latter was an indian tradingpost, located on the mail route to fort reno, and only a few miles north of the chisholm crossing. The letter was characteristic of my employer. It contained but one imperative order,that i should touch, either with or without the herd, at camp supply. For some unexplained reason he would make that post his headquarters until after the buford herds had passed that point. The letter concluded with the injunction, in case we met any one, to conceal the ownership of the herd

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ranches to wichita

ranches to wichita falls, six trains had been wrecked, two of which were his own. Instead of being hundreds of miles ahead in the lead of the years drive, as he expected, he now found himself in charge of a camp of cripples. What few trains belonging to his herd had escaped the ditch were used in filling up other unfortunate ones, the injured cattle from the other wrecks forming his present holdings. Our people were anxious to get their cattle on to the market early this year, said he, and put their foot into it up to the knee. Shipping to red river was an experiment with them, and i hope theyve got their belly full. Weve got dead and dying cattle in every pasture from the

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I rode it

I rode it in the mud in less than two hours just about ten miles. But that wasnt a circumstance to other experiences. We had driven about three hundred horses and mules, and after disposing of over two thirds of them, my employer was compelled to return home, leaving me to dispose of the remainder. I was a fair salesman, and rather than carry the remnant of the herd with me, made headquarters with a man who owned a large canebrake pasture. It was a convenient stoppingplace, and the stock did well on the young cane. Every week i would drive to some distant town eighteen or twenty head, or as many as i could handle alone. Sometimes i would sell out in a few days, and then again it would

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