Wells Brothers: The Young Cattle Kings Read online

  CHAPTER XVII

  "THE WAGON"

  The little ranch had assumed a contract and must answer at the appointedtime. If the brothers could meet their first commercial obligation, itwould establish their standing, and to that end every energy must bedirected. They were extremely fortunate in the advice and help of twoyoung men bred to the occupation, and whose every interest lay in makinga success of the ranch.

  The trail outfit returned to the railroad that night. Everything wasabandoned but their saddles--_burning the wagon_--while Joe Manly, oneof their number, remained behind. Manly was not even the foreman, and ontaking his departure the trail boss, in the presence of all, said to hisman, "Now, Joe, turn yourself over to this ranch and make a useful hand.Drop old man Dudley a line whenever you have a chance. It's quite alittle ride to the station, and we'll understand that no news is goodnews. And once you see that these cattle are going to winter safely,better raise the long yell and come home. You can drift back in thefall--during the beef-shipping season. I may write you when nextsummer's plans begin to unfold."

  Accompanied by Dell and Sargent, and singing the home songs of theSouth, the outfit faded away into the night. Forrest's herd had wateredduring the evening, and moved out to a safe camp, leaving its foreman onthe Beaver. He and Manly discussed the situation, paving the way indetail, up to the manner of holding the cattle during the coming winter.With numbers exceeding three thousand, close herd and corralling atnight was impossible, and the riding of lines, with an extra camp,admitting of the widest freedom, was decided on as the most feasiblemethod. The new camp must be located well above Hackberry Grove, and toprovision it for man and horse was one of the many details outlined inmeeting the coming winter. Joel was an attentive listener, and havingheld cattle by one system, he fully understood the necessity of adoptingsome other manner of restraint. In locating cattle, where there wasdanger of drifting from any cause, the method of riding lines was simpleand easily understood--to patrol the line liable to assault fromdrifting cattle.

  Forrest was elated over the outlook. On leaving the next morning, heturned his horse and rode back to the tent. "This may be the last timeI'll come this way," said he to Joel, "as there is talk of the trailmoving west. On account of fever, this State threatens to quarantineagainst Texas cattle. If it does, the trail will have to move over intoColorado or hunt a new route through unorganized counties on the westernline of Kansas. In event of quarantine being enforced, it means a biggerrange for Wells Brothers. Of course, this is only your second year incattle, just getting a firm grip on the business, but I can see a bigfuture for you boys. As cowmen, you're just in swaddling clothes yet,toddling around on your first legs, but the outlook is rosy. Hold thesecattle this winter, protect your credit next fall, and it doesn't matterif I never come back. A year hence you'll have a bank account, be livingon the sunny side of the creek, and as long as you stick to cows,through thick and thin, nothing can unhorse you."

  The trail foreman rode away to overtake his herd, and Joel and Manlybusied themselves in locating the new cattle. Dell and Sargentaccompanied the last Lovell herd into the ranch that evening, and itproved to be the rear guard of trail cattle for that summer.

  The ranch was set in order for the present. The dead-line was narrowedto a mile, which admitted of fully half the through cattle watering atthe beaver ponds around headquarters. The new remuda, including allhorses acquired that summer, to the number of eighty head, was moved upto Hackberry Grove and freed for the year. The wintered horses furnishedample saddle mounts for the present, there being little to do, as thewater held the new cattle and no herding was required. The heat ofsummer was over, the water held in tanks and beaver dams, and the ranchsettled down in pastoral security.

  Under the new outline for the winter, an increased amount of forage mustbe provided, as in riding lines two grain-fed horses to the man was thelowest limit in mounting all line-riders. Machinery was available on therailroad, and taking a team, Joel returned with a new mowing machine,and the matter of providing abundant forage was easily met. Sufficienthay, from a few bends of the creek, in dead-line territory, supplied thehome ranch, and a week's encampment above Hackberry Grove saw the siteof the new line-camp equipped with winter forage.

  While engaged on the latter task, a new feature was introduced on WellsBrothers' ranch. A movable commissary is a distinct aid to any pastoraloccupation, and hence _the wagon_ becomes a cowman's home and castle.From it he dispenses a rough hospitality, welcomes the wayfarer, andexchanges the chronicle of the range. The wagon, which had been acquiredwith the new herd and used on the above occasion, was well equipped withcanvas cover, water barrels, and a convenient chuck-box at the rear. Thelatter was fitted with drawers and compartments as conveniently as akitchen. When open, the lid of the box afforded a table; when closed, itprotected the contents from the outer elements. The wagon thus becomeshome to nomadic man and animal, the one equal with the other. Saddlehorses, when frightened at night, will rush to the safety of a camp-fireand the protection of their masters, and therefore a closer bond existsbetween the men of the open and their mounts than under more refinedsurroundings.

  Early in September a heavy rain fell in the west, extending down theBeaver, flushing the creek and providing an abundance of running water.It was followed by early frosts, lifting the dead-line and ushering inIndian summer. With forage secure, attention was turned to the cattle.The purchase of a mowing machine had exhausted the funds derived fromthe sale of peltry, and a shipment of cattle was decided on to providethe munitions for the coming winter. The wagon was accordinglyprovisioned for a week, the blankets stored in the commissary, and thequartette moved out to round up the wintered cattle. They had not beenhandled since the spring drift of March before, and when thrown into acompact herd, they presented a different appearance from the spiritlesscattle of six months previous. A hundred calves, timid as fawns, shiedfrom the horsemen, their mothers lowed in comforting concern, the beeveswaddled about from carrying their own flesh, while the patriarchs of theherd bellowed in sullen defiance. Fifty of the heaviest beeves were cutout from the ---- Y brand, flesh governing the selection, and the firstshipment of cattle left the Beaver for eastern markets.

  Four days were required to graze the heavy cattle down to the railroad.Dell drove the wagon, Sargent was intrusted with the remuda, the twoothers grazing the beeves, while each took his turn in standing guard atnight. Water was plentiful, cars were in waiting, and on reaching therailroad, the cattle were corralled in the shipping pens.

  Joel and Manly accompanied the shipment to Kansas City. The beeves wereconsigned to the firm mentioned in the bill of sale as factor inmarketing and settlement of the herd which had recently passed from thepossession of Mr. Stoddard to that of Wells Brothers. The two cars ofcattle found a ready sale, the weights revealing a surprise, attractingthe attention of packers and salesmen to the quality of beef from theBeaver valley.

  "Give me the cattle from the short-grass country," said a salesman to apacker, as Wells Brothers' beeves were crossing the weighing scale. "Youand I needn't worry about the question of range--the buffalo knew. Catchthe weights of these cattle and compare it with range beef from thesedge-grass and mountain country. Tallow tells its own story--thebuffalo knew the best range."

  An acquaintance with the commission house was established on a mutualbasis. The senior member of the firm, a practical old man, detained Joeland Manly in his private office for an hour.

  "This market is alert to every new section having cattle to ship," saidthe old man to Joel, studying a sales statement. "The Solomon Rivercountry sent in some cattle last fall, but yours is the first shipmentfrom the Beaver. Our salesman reports your consignment the fattestrange beeves on to-day's market. And these weights confirm thestatement. I don't understand it. What kind of a country have youout there?"

  Joel gave Manly an appealing look. "It's the plains," answered thelatter. "It's an old buffalo range. You can see their skulls by thethousand. It's a big country; it
just swells, and dips, and rolls away."

  It was the basis of a range which interested the senior member. "Thegrasses, the grasses?" he repeated. "What are your native grasses?"

  "Oh, just plain, every-day buffalo grass," answered Manly. "Of course,here and there, in the bends of the Beaver, there's a little blue-stem,enough for winter forage for the saddle stock. The cattle won'ttouch it."

  The last of many subjects discussed was the existing contract, of whichthe commission firm was the intermediary factor. The details were goneover carefully, the outlook for next year's shipments reviewed, and ontaking their leave, the old man said to his guests:--

  "Well, I'm pleased over the outlook. The firm have had letters from bothMr. Lovell and Mr. Stoddard, and now that I've gone over the situation,with the boys in the saddle, everything is clear and satisfactory. Nextyear's shipments will take care of the contract. Keep in touch with us,and we'll advise you from time to time. Ship your cattle in finishedcondition, and they'll make a market for themselves. We'll expect youearly next summer."

  "Our first shipment will be two hundred double-wintered cattle,"modestly admitted Joel.

  "They ought to be ready a full month in advance of your single-winteredbeeves," said the old man, from his practical knowledge in maturingbeef. "Ship them early. The bookkeeper has your account all ready."

  Joel and Manly were detained at the business office only a moment. Thebeeves had netted thirty-five dollars a head, and except for currentexpenses, the funds were left on deposit with the commission house, asthere were no banks near home; the account was subject to draft, andaccepting a small advance in currency, the boys departed. A brief hour'sshopping was indulged in, the principal purchases being two long-rangerifles, cartridges and poison in abundance, when they hastened to thedepot and caught a west-bound train. Horses had been left at Grinnell,and at evening the next day the two rode into headquarters onthe Beaver.

  Beyond question there are tides in the affairs of men. With the firstshipment of cattle from the little ranch, poverty fled and an air ofindependence indicated the turn in the swing of the pendulum. Practicalmen, in every avenue of the occupation, had lent their indorsement tothe venture of the brothers, the mettle of the pasture had been testedin the markets, and the future, with reasonable vigilance, rested onsure foundations.

  The turn of the tide was noticeable at once. "I really think Uncle Dudwould let me come home," said Manly to the others, at supper. "There'sno occasion for my staying here this winter. Besides, I'm a tenderplant; I'm as afraid of cold as a darky is of thunder. Wouldn't I liketo get a letter from Uncle Dud saying, 'Come home, my little whitechicken, come home!'"

  "You can go in the spring," said Joel. "We're going to use fourline-riders this winter, and there's every reason why you'll make atrusty one!"

  "That's one of the owners talking," observed Sargent; "now listen to theforeman's orders: The next thing is to brand every hoof up to date.Then, at the upper line-camp, comes the building of a new dug-out andstabling for four horses. And lastly, freight in plenty of corn. Afterthat, if we fail to hold the cattle, it's our own fault. No excuse willpass muster. Hold these cattle? It's a dead immortal cinch! Joseph dear,make yourself a useful guest for the winter."

  A hopeful spirit lightened every task. The calves and their mothers werebrought down to the home corral and branded in a single day. TheStoddard cattle, the title being conditional, were exempt, the Lazy Hranch brand fully protecting mutual interests. Only cripple, fagged, andstray cattle were branded, the latter numbering less than a hundredhead, and were run into the Hospital brand, while the remainder borethe--Y of the ranch. The work was completed within a week, Dell making ahand which proved his nerve, either in the saddle or branding pen.

  The first week in October was devoted to building the new dug-out andstable. The wagon was provisioned, every implement and tool on theranch, from a hammer to a plough, was taken along, as well as theremuda, and the quartette sallied forth to the task as if it were afrolic. The site had been decided on during the haying, and on reachingthe scene, the tent was set up, and the building of a shelter for manand horse was begun.

  The dug-out of the West is built for comfort,--half cellar and theremainder sod walls. A southern slope was selected; an abrupt break orlow bank was taken advantage of, admitting of four-foot cellar walls onthree sides, the open end inclosed with massive sod walls and containingthe door. The sod was broken by a team and plough, cut into lengths likebrick, and the outside walls raised to the desired height. For roofing,a heavy ridge-pole was cut the length of the room, resting on stoutupright posts. Lighter poles were split and laid compactly, likerafters, sheeted with hay, and covered with loose dirt to the depth of afoot. The floor was earthen; a half window east and west, supplementedby a door in the south, admitted light, making a cosy, comfortableshelter. A roomy stable was built on the same principle and from thesame material.

  The work was completed quickly, fuel for the winter gathered, when thequartette started homeward. "It looks like the halfway house at Land'sEnd," said Manly, turning for a last look at the new improvements. "Whatare you going to call the new tepee?"

  "Going to call it The Wagon," answered Sargent, he and Dell havingaccepted the new line-camp as their winter quarters, "and let thelatch-string hang on the outside. Whenever you can, you must bring yourknitting and come over."