Wells Brothers: The Young Cattle Kings Page 15

  CHAPTER XV

  WATER! WATER!

  "Bring on your herds," said Joel, addressing a quartette of trailforemen resting under the sunshade. "Our water is holding out betterthan we expected. The Lovell cattle only lowered the ponds a trifle.From the present outlook, we can water the drive."

  "That's a big contract," reluctantly admitted a "Running W" trail boss."I had word on the railroad yesterday that the Arkansaw River at Dodgewas only running at night."

  "Water is reported plentiful around Ogalalla and beyond," doggedly saida pock-marked foreman.

  "That'll tempt the herds to cross over," urged the Running W man. "Thefaraway hills are always green."

  The conversation took a new tack. "Who knows the estimate on the totaldrive this year?" inquired a swarthy, sun-burned little man, addressingthe pock-marked foreman.

  "A rough estimate places the drive at six hundred and fifty thousandhead," came the languid reply.

  "There you are," smilingly said the Running W boss, turning to Joel."Better revise your water estimate."

  "Not now," answered Joel, meeting smile with smile. "Later on I may haveto hedge, but for the present, bring on your cattle."

  "That's to the point," languidly said a tall, blond Texan, arising. "Mycattle must have water this evening."

  The other trail foremen arose. "We all understand," remarked thepock-marked man to the others, "that this is the place where we drop ourstrays, fagged and crippled stuff. These are the boys that Mr. Lovellmentioned as worthy of any cattle that must be abandoned."

  "At Wells Brothers' ranch, on the Beaver," assentingly said the littleman.

  "Our lead herds will not have many cripples," said the Running Wforeman, turning to the boys. "A few days' rest is everything to atender-footed steer, and what cattle the lead ones drop, the rear oneshave orders to bring through to you."

  "Thank you, sir," said Joel frankly. "We want to stock our range, andcrippled cattle are as good as gold to us."

  Spurs clanked as the men turned to their mounts. The boys followed, andDell overtook the blond Texan. "If you need a hand on the drag end ofyour herd," said the boy to the tall foreman, "I'll get up a fresh horseand overtake you."

  "Make it a horse apiece," said the young man, "and I'll sign yourpetition for the post office--when this country has one. I'm as goodas afoot."

  The other foremen mounted their horses. "I'll overtake you," said Joelto the trio, "as soon as I change mounts. Whoever has the lead herd,come in on the water above the field. The upper pools are the deepest,and let your cattle cover the water evenly."

  "I'm in the lead," said the pock-marked man. "But we'll have to come upto the water in trailing formation. The cattle have suffered fromthirst, and they break into a run at sight of water, if grazed up to it.You may take one point and I'll take the other."

  The existing drouth promised a good schooling for the brothers. Amongthe old philosophies, contact was said to be educational. Wells Brotherswere being thrown in contact with the most practical men that theoccupation, in all pastoral ages, had produced. The novelty of trailingcattle vast distances had its origin with the Texans. Bred to thecalling, they were masters of the craft. In the hands of an adept outfitof a dozen men, a trail herd of three thousand beeves had all themobility of a brigade of cavalry. The crack of a whip was unheard on thetrail. A whispered order, followed by a signal to the men, and the herdturned, grazed to its contentment, fell into column formation, and tookup its march--a peaceful march that few armies have equaled. Contactwith these men, the rank and file of that splendid cavalry which oncepatrolled the range industry of the West, was priceless to the boys.

  The lead herd reached the Beaver valley at noon. When within a mile ofthe water, the point men gave way to the foremen and Joel Wells. Butinstead of dropping back, the dust-covered men rode on into the lead,the action being seemingly understood by every one except the new handon the point. Joel was alert, felt the massive column of beeves yield tohis slightest pressure, as a ship to the hand of the helmsman, as heveered the leaders out of the broken trails and guided the herd aroundthe field to the upper pools. On nearing the water, the deposed pointmen deployed nearer the lead, when the object of their positionexplained itself. On sighting the ponds, the leaders broke into a run,but the four horsemen at hand checked the excited dash, and the herd wasled up to the water in column formation. It was the mastery of man overthe creature.

  The herds arrived in hit-and-miss class. The destination of thepock-marked foreman's beeves was an army post in Dakota. The swarthylittle man followed with a herd of cows for delivery at an Indian agencyin Wyoming. The different Running W herds were under contract todifferent cattle companies, in adjoining states and territories. Thetall foreman's herd was also under contract, but the point of deliverywas at Ogalalla, on the Platte, where a ranch outfit would receivethe cattle.

  The latter herd arrived late at evening. The cattle were driven onspeculation, there had been an oversight in mounting the outfit, and themen, including the foreman, were as good as afoot.

  "This trip lets me out," said the young Texan to the brothers, "ofwalking up the trail and leading fagged-out saddle stock. A mount of sixhorses to the man may be all right on a ranch, but it won't do on thetrail. Especially in a dry year, with delivery on the Platte. Actually,this afternoon is the first time I have felt a horse under me since wecrossed Red River. Give me a sheet of paper, please. I want to give youa bill of sale for these six drag ponies that I'm sawing off on you. Icarry written authority to give a bill of sale, and it will alwaysprotect your possession of the horses. They wouldn't bring a dollar ahead in Ogalalla, but when they round into form again next summer, somebrand ferret passing might want to claim them on you. Any cattle that Icull out here are abandoned, you understand, simply abandoned."

  The boys were left alone for the first time in several nights. The rushof the past few days had kept them in the saddle during their wakinghours. The dead-line had been neglected, the drifting of cripples to thenew tanks below was pressing, and order must be established. The waterin the pools was the main concern, a thing beyond human control, and amatter of constant watchfulness. A remark dropped during the day, ofwater flowing at night, was not lost on the attentive ear of Joel Wells.

  "What did you mean?" he politely inquired of the Running W foreman,while the latter's herd was watering, "of a river only runningat night?"

  "All over this arid country moisture rises at night and sinks by day,"replied the trail boss. "Under drouth, these sandy rivers of the plain,including the Platte and for a thousand miles to the south, only flow atnight. It's their protection against the sun's absorption. Mark thesepools at sunset and see if they don't rise an inch to-night. Try itand see."

  Willow roots were notched on the water-line of each beaver dam. Theextreme upper pool was still taking water from a sickly flow, astruggling rivulet, fed by the springs at its head. Doubt was indulgedin and freely expressed.

  "If the water only holds a week longer," ventured Dell, sleepless in hisblankets, "it'll double our holding of cattle."

  "It'll hold a month," said Joel, equally sleepless. "We've got to standby these trail herds--there is no other water short of the Republican.I've figured it all out. When the Beaver ponds are gone, we'll round upthe wintered cattle, drift them over to the south fork of theRepublican, and get some one to hold them until frost falls. Then we'llship the cripples up to Hackberry Grove, and that will free the newtanks--water enough for twenty trail herds. We have the horses, andthese trail outfits will lend us any help we need. By shifting cattlearound, I can see a month's supply. And there may be something in waterrising at night. We'll know in the morning."

  Sleep blotted out the night. Dawn revealed the fact that the trailforeman knew the secrets of the plain. "That trail boss knew," shoutedJoel, rushing into the tent and awakening Dell. "The water rose in everypool. The lower one gained an inch and the upper one gained two. Thecreek is running freely. The water must be rising out of the grou
nd. Letthose Texans bring on their herds. We have oceans of water!"

  The cattle came. The first week thirty herds passed the new ranch. Ittook riding. The dead-line was held, the flotsam cared for, and a handwas ever ready to point a herd or nurse the drag end. Open house wasmaintained. Every arriving foreman was tendered a horse, and left hisbenediction on the Beaver.

  The ranch proved a haven to man and beast. One of the first foremen toarrive during the second week was Nat Straw. He drove up at sunset, witha chuck-wagon, halted at the tent, and in his usual easy mannerinquired, "Where is the matron of this hospital?"

  "Here she is," answered Dell, recognizing the man and surmising thesituation. "One of your men hurt?"

  "Not seriously," answered Straw, looking back into the wagon. "Just alittle touch of the dengue. He's been drinking stagnant water, out ofcow tracks, for the last few months, and that gets into the bones of thebest of us. I'm not feeling very well myself."

  Dell lifted the wagon-sheet and peered inside. "Let's get the poorfellow into the tent," urged the boy. "Can he walk, or can you and Icarry him?"

  "He's the long size Texan, and we'd better try and trail him in,"answered Straw, alighting from the wagon. "Where's Dr. Joel Wells?"

  "Riding the dead-line. He'll be in shortly. I'll fix a cot, and we'llbring the sick man in at once."

  It was simple malaria, known in the Southwest as dengue fever. Theunfortunate lad was made comfortable, and on Joel riding in, Straw hadskirmished some corn, and was feeding his mules.

  "As one of the founders of this hospital," said Straw, after greetingJoel, "this corn has my approval. It is my orders, as one of thetrustees, that it be kept in stock hereafter. This team has to go backto the Prairie Dog to-night, and this corn will fortify them forthe trip."

  The situation was explained. "I only lost half a day," continued Straw,"by bringing the poor fellow over to you. He's one of the best men thatever worked for me, and a month's rest will put him on his feet again.Now, if one of you boys will take the team back to--"

  "Certainly," answered Joel. "Anything a director of this hospital wantsdone--We're running a relief station now--watering the entire drive thisyear. Where's your outfit camped?"

  "A mile above the trail crossing on the Prairie Dog. The wagon's empty.Leave here at two o'clock to-night, and you'll get there in time forbreakfast."

  "I'm your man. Going to the Prairie Dog at night, in the summer, is ahorse that's easy curried."

  The next evening Joel brought in Straw's herd. In the mean time the sickman had been cared for, and the passing wayfarer and his cattle madewelcome and sped on their way. During the lay-over, Straw had lost hisplace in the overland march, two herds having passed him and crossedthe Beaver.

  "I'm corporal here to-day," said Straw to the two foremen, who arrivedtogether in advance. "On this water, I'm the squatter that'll rob youright. You'll count your cattle to me and pay the bill in advance. Thiscool, shaded water in the Beaver is worth three cents a head, and I'llcount you down to a toddling calf and your wagon mules. Your drafts arerefused honor at the Beaver banks--nothing but the long green passescurrency here. You varmints must show some regrets for taking advantageof a widow woman. I'll make you sorry for passing me."

  "How I love to hear old Nat rattle his little song," said one of theforemen, shaking hands with Dell. "Remember the night you slept with me?How's the black cow I gave you last summer?"

  Dell fairly clung to the grasped hand. "Pressnell's foreman!" said he,recalling both man and incident. "The cow has a roan calf. Sit down.Will you need a fresh horse to-day? Do you like lettuce?"

  "I reckon, Nat," said the other foreman, an hour later, as the twomounted loaned horses, "I reckon your big talk goes up in smoke. You'renot the only director in this cattle company. Dell, ransack both ourwagons to-day, and see if you can't unearth some dainties for this sicklad. No use looking in Straw's commissary; he never has anything to eat;Injuns won't go near his wagon."

  Straw spent a second night with the sick man. On leaving in themorning, he took the feverish hand of the lad and said: "Now, Jack, makeyourself right at home. These boys have been tried before, and they'reour people. I'm leaving you a saddle and a horse, and when you get onyour feet, take your own bearings. You can always count on a job withme, and I'll see that you draw wages until my outfit is relieved. Thisfever will burn itself out in a week or ten days. I'll keep an eye overyou until you are well. S'long, Jack."

  The second week fell short only two herds of the previous one. Therewere fully as many cattle passed, and under the heat of advancing summerthe pools suffered a thirsty levy. The resources of the ponds were aconstant source of surprise, as an occasional heavy beef caved a footinto an old beaver warren, which poured its contents into the pools. Atthe end of the first fortnight, after watering fifty-eight herds, nearlyhalf the original quantity of water was still in reserve.

  A third week passed. There was a decided falling off in the arrival ofherds, only twenty-two crossing the Beaver. The water reserves sufferedfreely, more from the sun's absorption than from cattle, until thesupply became a matter of the most serious concern. The pools would nothave averaged a foot in depth, the flow from the springs was a meretrickle, the beaver burrows sounded empty to a horse's footbeat, andthere must be some limit to the amount the parched soil would yield.

  The brothers found apt counsel in their guest. By the end of the secondweek, the fever had run its course, and the sick man, Jack Sargent, wasup and observant of the situation. True to his calling, he felt for thecattle, and knew the importance of water on the Beaver to thepassing drive.

  "You must rest these beaver ponds," said Jack, in meeting the emergency."Every time these pools lower an inch, it gives the sun an advantage.It's absorption that's swallowing up the ponds. You must deepen thesepools, which will keep the water cooler. Rest these ponds a few days, oronly water late at night. You have water for weeks yet, but don't letthe sun rob you. These ponds are living springs compared to some of thewater we used south of Red River. Meet the herds on the divide, andpilot the early ones to the tanks below, and the late ones in here.Shifting in your saddle rests a horse, and a little shifting will saveyour water."

  The advice was acted on. While convalescent, Sargent was installed ashost on the Beaver, and the brothers took to their saddles. The majorityof the herds were met on the Prairie Dog, and after a consultation withthe foremen their cattle were started so as to reach the tanks by day orthe ranch at evening. The month rounded out with the arrival of eighteenherds, only six of which touched at headquarters, and the fourth weeksaw a distinct gain in the water supply at the beaver dams. The boysbarely touched at home, to change horses, living with the trail wagons,piloting in herds, rich in the reward of relieving the wayfaring, andcontent with the crumbs that fell to their range.

  The drouth of 1886 left a gruesome record in the pastoral history of theWest. The southern end of the Texas and Montana cattle trail was markedby the bones of forty thousand cattle that fell, due to the want ofwater, during the months of travail on that long march. Some of thisloss was due to man's inhumanity to the cattle of the fields, inwithholding water, but no such charge rested on the owners of the littleranch on the Beaver.

  A short month witnessed the beginning of the end of the year's drive.Only such herds as were compelled to, and those that had strength inreserve, dared the plain between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. Thefifth week only six herds arrived, all of which touched at the ranch;half of them had been purchased at Dodge, had neither a cripple nor astray to bestow, but shared the welcome water and passed on.

  One of the purchased herds brought a welcome letter to Joel. It was fromDon Lovell, urgently accenting anew his previous invitation to come toDodge and look over the market.

  "After an absence of several weeks," wrote Mr. Lovell, "I have returnedto Dodge. From a buyer's standpoint, the market is inviting. The boomprices which prevailed in '84 are cut in half. Any investment in cattlenow is perfectly safe.

>   "I have ordered three of my outfits to return here. They will pass yourranch. Fall in with the first one that comes along. Bring a mount ofhorses, and report to me on arriving. Fully half this year's drive ishere, unsold. Be sure and come."

  "Are you going?" inquired Dell on reading the letter.

  "I am," answered Joel with emphasis.

  "That's the talk," said Sargent. "Whenever cattle get so cheap that noother man will look a cow in the face, that's the time to buy her.Folks are like sheep; the Bible says so; they all want to buy or allwant to sell. I only know Mr. Lovell from what you boys have told me;but by ordering three outfits to return to Dodge, I can see that he'sgoing to take advantage of that market and buy about ten thousandcattle. You've got the range. Buy this summer. I'll stay with Dell untilyou return. Buy a whole herd of steers, and I'll help you hold themthis winter."

  The scene shifted. Instead of looking to the south for a dust cloud, theslopes of the north were scanned for an approaching cavalcade. The lastweek admitted of taking an account of the cattle dropped at the newranch. From the conserves of its owners, one hundred and four herds hadwatered, over three hundred thousand cattle, the sweepings of whichamounted to a few over eleven hundred head, fully fifty of which,exhausted beyond recovery, died after reaching their new range.

  By the end of July, only an occasional herd was arriving. August wasushered in with the appearance of Bob Quirk, one of the divisionforemen, on the upper march. He arrived early in the morning, in advanceof his outfit barely an hour, and inquired for Joel. Dell answered forthe brothers, the older one and Sargent being above at Hackberry Grove.

  "I have orders to bring him to Dodge," said Quirk, dismounting. "Makehaste and bring in the remuda. We'll cut him out a mount of six horsesand throw them in with mine. Joel can follow on the seventh. My outfitwill barely touch here in passing. We're due to receive cattle in Dodgeon the 5th, and time is precious. Joel can overtake us before night.Make haste."