drove to their

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 turn 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

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other boys came

other boys came forward and, shaking hands, greeted him with equal familiarity. As two strangers alighted on the opposite side, the detective took me around and they were introduced as mr. Field and mr. Radcliff, prospective beef buyers. The boys had stretched a tarpaulin, affording ample shade, and parent invited every one to dinner. The two strangers were rather testy, but siringo ate ravenously, repeatedly asking for things which were usually kept in a wellstocked chuckwagon, meanwhile talking with great familiarity with tussler and me. 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

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compared to a

compared to a winter drift of buffalo, ten years previous. Riding down the farther slope, we reached our camp in time for a late breakfast, the fifteenmile ride having whetted our appetites. Three men were on herd, and sending two more with instructions to water the cattle an hour before noon, tussler and i sought the shade of the wagon and fell asleep. It was some time after midday when, on sighting the expected conveyance approaching our camp, the cook aroused us. Performing a rather hasty ablution, i met the vehicle, freshened, and with my wits on tap. I nearly dragged the detective from the livery rig, addressing him as charley, and we made a rough ado over each other. Several of the

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of the wife

of the wife of prince grouski, the past would be wiped out your money would win admirers, while your being a princess would make fashionable society your tool. The very atmosphere of princesses is full of taint but it is sunk in the rank, and rather increases courtiers. In france your untainted princess would prognosticate the second coming of, well, i will not profane. Do not, i beg of you, says madame, blushing. I am scrupulously opposed to profanity. And then there breaks upon the ear music that seems floating from an enchanted chamber, so soft and dulcet does it mingle with the coarse laughing and coarser wit of the banqueters. At

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hour for showing

hour for showing the herd the next day, or that one rather, tussler and i withdrew, agreeing to be out of town before daybreak. But the blaze of gambling and the blare of dancehalls held us as in a sirens embrace until the lights dimmed with the breaking of dawn. Mounting our horses, we forded the river east of town and avoided the herds, which were just arising from their bedgrounds. On the divide we halted. Within the horizon before us, it is safe to assert that one hundred thousand cattle grazed in lazy contentment, all feeding against the morning breeze. Save for the freshness of early summer, with its background of green and the rarified atmosphere of the elevated plain, the scene before us might be

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me that he

me that he had cultivated the acquaintance of the parties holding the assignment of the buford award. He had represented to them that he was the fiscal agent of some six herds on the trail that year, three of which were heavy beeves, and they had agreed to look them over, provided they arrived before the 15th of the month. He further assured me that the parties were mere figureheads of the supply company that they were exceedingly bearish on the market, gloating over the recent depreciation in prices, and perfectly willing to fatten on the wreck and ruin of others. It was long after midnight when the consultation ended. Appointing an

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oclock. The dodge

oclock. The dodge house was a popular hostelry for trail men and cattle buyers, and on our making inquiry of the night clerk if a mr. Siringo was stopping there, we were informed that he was, but had retired. I put up a trivial excuse for seeing him, the clerk gave me the number of his room, and tussler and i were soon closeted with him. The detective was a mediumsized, ordinary man, badly pockmarked, with a soft, musical voice, and apparently as innocent as a boy. In a brief preliminary conversation, he proved to be a texan, knowing every in and out of cattle, having been bred to the occupation. Our relations to each other were easily established. Reviewing the situation thoroughly, he informed

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vultures hover round

vultures hover round when cattle are dying. Honest, fellows, id just dearly love to pull on a rope and watch one of the varmints make his last kick. Several days of showery weather followed. Crossing the cimarron, we followed up its north slope to within thirty miles of the regular western trail. Not wishing to intercept it until necessity compelled us, when near the kansas line we made our last tack for dodge. The rains had freshened the country and flushed the creeks, making our work easy, and early in the month of june we reached the mulberry. Traveling at random, we struck that creek about twenty miles below the trail, and moved up

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the stream to

the stream to within a short distance of the old crossing. The presence of a dozen other herds holding along it forced us into a permanent camp a short halfdays ride from the town. The horsewrangler was pressed into service in making up the first guard that night, and taking morg tussler with me, i struck out for dodge in the falling darkness. On reaching the first divide, we halted long enough to locate the campfires along the mulberry to our rear, while above and below and beyond the river, fires flickered like an indian encampment. The lights of dodge were inviting us, and after making a rough estimate of the camps in sight, we rode for town, arriving there between ten and eleven

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once the land

once the land lay clear, they would gladly have led a forlorn hope in don lovells interests. Agitation over the matter was maintained at white heat for several days, as we again angled back towards the cimarron. Around the campfires at night, the chicanery of the western supply company gave place to the best stories at our command. There ought to be a law, said runt pickett, in wrathy indignation, making it legal to kill some people, same as rattlesnakes. Now, you take a square gambler and i dont think anything of losing my money against his game, but one of these sneaking, underdealing, topandbottombusiness pimps, i do despise. You can find them in every honest calling, same as

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irresponsible. Beeves have

irresponsible. Beeves have broken from four to five dollars a head, and unless i can deliver these buford herds on my contract, they will lose me fifty thousand dollars. Have you any intimation that they expect to buy in other cattle. I inquired. Yes. I have had a detective in my employ ever since my suspicions were aroused. There are two parties in dodge this very minute with the original contract, properly assigned, and they are looking for cattle to fill it. Thats why im stopping here and lying low. I couldnt explain it to you sooner, but you understand now why i drove those buford herds

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i submitted the

i submitted the matter to my old lawyer he shook his head, arguing that a loophole had been left open, and that i should have secured an assignment of the original contract. After studying the matter over, we opened negotiations to secure a complete relinquishment of the award. But when i offered the company a thousand dollars over and above what they admitted was their margin, and they refused it, i opened my eyes to the true situation. If cattle went up, i was responsible and would have to fill my contract if they went down, the company would buy in the cattle and i could go to hell in a handbasket for all they cared. Their bond to the government does me no good, and beyond that they are

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you, madame flamingo

you, madame flamingo makes a most courteous bow, and with an air of great dignity condescends to say she hopes gentlemen of the highest standing in charleston have for ten years or more had the strongest proofs of her ability to administer the offices of a lady of station. But you know, she pursues, hoping ladies and gentlemen will be kind enough to keep their glasses full, people are become so pious nowadays that they are foolish enough to attach a stigma to our business. Pooh, pooh. Interrupts the accommodation man, having raised his glass in compliment to a painted harlot. Once in europe, and under the shadow

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precaution exercised by

precaution exercised by the drover was premonitory of some revelation, and before we arose from the cottonwood log on which we took seats, the scales had fallen from my eyes and the atmosphere of mystery cleared. Tom, said my employer, i am up against a bad proposition. I am driving these buford cattle, you understand, on a subcontract. I was the second lowest bidder with the government, and no sooner was the award made to the western supply company than they sent an agent who gave me no peace until they sublet their contract. Unfortunately for me, when the papers were drawn, my regular attorney was out of town, and i was compelled to depend on a stranger. After the articles were executed,

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first bottom of

first bottom of the river. Wishing to avoid, if possible, intersecting the western trail south of dodge, the next morning i left the herd to follow up, and rode into camp supply before noon. Lovell had sighted me a mile distant, and after a drink at the sutlers bar, we strolled aside for a few minutes chat. Once i had informed him of the locality of the herd and their condition, he cautioned me not to let my business be known while in the post. After refreshing the inner man, my employer secured a horse and started with me on my return. As soon as the flag over supply faded out of sight in our rear, we turned to the friendly shade of the timber on the north fork and dismounted. I felt that the

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explained that the

explained that the present condition of the stream was unheard of before, and that native cattle had instinct enough to avoid it. He accounted for its condition as due to the dry season, there being no general rains sufficient to flood the alkaline plain and thoroughly flush the creek. In reply to an inquiry as to the ownership of the unfortunate herds, he informed me that there were three, one belonging to bob houston, another to major corouthers, and the third to a man named murphy, the total loss amounting to about two thousand cattle. From this same rangeman we also learned our location. Camp supply lay up the north fork some sixty miles, while a plain trail followed up the

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wallows on the

wallows on the mesa filled, and water was on every hand. The rain ceased before dawn, but owing to the saturated condition underfoot, not a hoof lay down during the night, and when the gray of morning streaked the east, what a sense of relief it brought us. The danger had passed. Near noon that day, and within a few miles of the north fork, we rounded an alkaline plain in which this deadly creek had its source. Under the influence of the season, alkali had oozed up out of the soil until it looked like an immense lake under snow. The presence of range cattle in close proximity to this creek, for we were in the cherokee strip, baffled my reasoning but the next day we met a rangerider who

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The cattle surged

The cattle surged and drifted almost at will, for we were compelled to hold them loose to avoid milling. Before ten oclock the lightning was flickering overhead and around us, revealing acres of big beeves, which in an instant might take fright, and then, god help us. But in that night of trial a mercy was extended to the dumb brutes in charge. A warm rain began falling, first in a drizzle, increasing after the first hour, and by midnight we could hear the water slushing under our horses feet. By the almost constant flashes of lightning we could see the cattle standing as if asleep, in grateful enjoyment of the sheeting downpour. As the night wore on, our fears of a stampede abated, for the buffalo

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front, both inviting

front, both inviting and defying us. Turning the herd due south, we traveled until darkness fell, going into camp on a high, flat mesa of several thousand acres. But those evening breezes wafted an invitation to come and drink, and our thirsty herd refused to bed down. To add to our predicament, a storm thickened in the west. Realizing that we were confronting the most dangerous night in all my cattle experience, i ordered every man into the saddle. The remuda and team were taken in charge by the wrangler and cook, and going from man to man, i warned them what the consequences would be if we lost the herd during the night, and the cattle reached the creek.

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spring. As we

spring. As we neared the dead cattle, splann called my attention to the attitude of the animals when death relieved them, the heads of fully two thirds being thrown back on their sides. Many, when stricken, were unable to reach the bank, and died in the bed of the stream. Making a complete circle of the ghastly scene, we returned to our own, agreeing that between five and six hundred cattle had met their fate in those deathdealing pools. We were not yet out of the woods. On our return, many of the cattle were lying down, while in the west thunderclouds were appearing. The north fork of the canadian lay on our left, which was now our only hope for

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affording us a

affording us a breathing spell, for the suddenness of this danger had not only unnerved me but every one of the outfit who had caught a glimpse of that field of death. The wagon came up, and those who needed them secured a change of horses. Leaving the outfit holding the herd, splann and i took fresh mounts, and circling around, came in on the windward side of the creek. As we crossed it half a mile above the scene of disaster, each of us dipped a hand in the water and tasted it. The alkali was strong as concentrated lye, blistering our mouths in the experiment. The creek was not even running, but stood in long, deep pools, clear as crystal and as inviting to the thirsty as a mountain

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breeze was wafted

breeze was wafted through that polluted atmosphere from the creek to the cattles nostrils. Turning upon us and now augmented to several hundred head, they sullenly started forward. But in the few minutes interim, two other lads had come to our support, and dismounting we rushed them, whipping our slickers into ribbons over their heads. The mastery of man again triumphed over brutes in their thirst, for we drove them in a rout back over the divide. Our success, however, was only temporary. Recovering our horses we beat the cattle back, seemingly inch by inch, until the rear came up, when we rounded them into a compact body. They quieted down for a short while,

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and she begins

and she begins to think there is something in it after all. Make as light of it as you please, ladies and gentlemenmany stranger things have come to pass. As for the exile, grouski, i always esteemed him a very excellent gentleman. Exactly. Interposes the judge, tipping his glass, and preparing his appetite for the course of gamebroiled partridges, ricebirds, and grousewhich is being served by the waiters. No one more worthy, he pursues, wiping his sleepy face with his napkin, of being a princess. Education, wealth, and taste, you have and with grouski, there is nothing to prevent the happy consummationnothing. I beg to assure

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beeves had been

beeves had been scenting the creek for hours, and now a few of the leaders started forward in a trot for it. Like a flash it came to me that death lurked in that water, and summoning every man within hearing, i dashed to the lead of our cattle to turn them back over the hill. Jack splann was on the point, and we turned the leaders when within two hundred yards of the creek, frequently jumping our horses over the putrid carcasses of dead cattle. The main body of the herd were trailing for three quarters of a mile in our rear, and none of the men dared leave their places. Untying our slickers, splann and i fell upon the leaders and beat them back to the brow of the hill, when an unfortunate

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in our saddles,

in our saddles, gasping for breath. I was riding third man in the swing from the point, and noticing something wrong in front, galloped to the brow of the hill. The smell was sickening and almost unendurable, and there before us in plain view lay hundreds of dead cattle, bloated and decaying in the summer sun. I was dazed by the awful scene. A pretty, greenswarded little valley lay before me, groups of cottonwoods fringed the stream here and there, around the roots of which were both shade and water. The reeking stench that filled the air stupefied me for the instant, and i turned my horse from the view, gasping for a mouthful of gods pure ozone. But our

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creek at about

creek at about the usual hour for the cattles daily drink, and besides, as the creek neared the river, it ran through an alkali flat for some distance. But before the time arrived to intersect the creek on our course, the herd turned out of the trail, determined to go to the creek and quench their thirst. The entire outfit, however, massed on the right flank, and against their will we held them on their course. As their thirst increased with travel, they made repeated attempts to break through our cordon, requiring every man to keep on the alert. But we held them true to the divide, and as we came to the brow of a small hill within a quartermile of the water, a stench struck us until we turned

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affluents. The fifth

affluents. The fifth day out from red rock was an excessively sultry one, and suffering would have resulted to the herd had we not been following a divide where we caught an occasional breeze. The river lay some ten miles to our right, while before us a tributary could be distinctly outlined by the cottonwoods which grew along it. Since early morning we had been paralleling the creek, having nooned within sight of its confluence with the mother stream, and consequently i had considered it unnecessary to ride ahead and look up the water. When possible, we always preferred watering the herd between three and four oclock in the afternoon. But by holding our course, we were certain to intersect the

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cattle trace and

cattle trace and turned on a northwest angle. Our route now lay up the cimarron, which we crossed and recrossed at our pleasure, for the sake of grazing or to avoid several large alkali flats. There was evidence of herds in our advance, and had we not hurried past red fork, i might have learned something to our advantage. But disdaining all inquiry of the cutoff, fearful lest our identity be discovered, we deliberately walked into the first real danger of the trip. At low water the cimarron was a brackish stream. But numerous tributaries put in from either side, and by keeping above the rivers ebb, an abundance of fresh water was daily secured from the rivers

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foreman, ill bet

foreman, ill bet thats a good lot of darkies. They were just about the right shadeold shiny black. As good cowhands as ever i saw were nigs, but they need a white man to blow and brag on them. But it always ruins one to give him any authority. Without effort we traveled fifteen miles a day. In the absence of any wet weather to gall their backs, there was not a horse in our remuda unfit for the saddle. In fact, after reaching the indian territory, they took on flesh and played like lambs. With the exception of long hours and nightherding, the days passed in seeming indolence as we swept northward, crossing rivers without a halt which in previous years had

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Of me. Interrupts

Of me. Interrupts the old hostess, blushing. I respect grouski, and the more so for his being a poor prince in exile. Madame orders her servants, who are screwed into bright liveries, to bring on some sparkling moselle. This done, and the glasses filled with the sparkling beverage, mr. Soloman rises to propose a toast although, as he says, it is somewhat out of place, two rounds having only succeeded the soup i propose the health of our generous host, to whom we owe so much for the superb manner in which she has catered for our amusement. Heres that we may speedily have the pleasure of paying our respects to her as the princess grouski. Madame flamingo bows, the toast is drunk with cheers,

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