partner。
Upon the report of Sponsilier； Ullmer was appointed captain； and lost no time in taking action。 After dark； a scout was sent to Camp No。 2； a meeting…place was appointed on Wolf Creek below； and orders were given to bring along every possible man from the local outfits and to meet at the rendezvous within an hour after sun…up the next morning。 Ullmer changed horses and left for Powderville； assuring us that he would rally every man interested in quarantine； and have his posse below； on the creek by sunrise。 The remainder of us at headquarters were under orders to bring all the arms and ammunition； and join the quarantine forces at the meeting… place some five miles from our camp。 We were also to touch at and command the presence of one of the four outfits while en route。 I liked the determined action of Captain Ulimer； who I learned had emigrated with his parents to Montana when a boy； and had grown into manhood on the frontier。 Sponsilier was likewise pleased with the quarantine leader； and we lay awake far into the night； reviewing the situation and trying to anticipate any possible contingency that might thwart our plans。 But to our best reasoning the horizon was clear； and if Field； Radcliff & Co。's cattle reached Fort Buford on the day of delivcry； well； it would be a miracle。
Fresh horses were secured at dawn； and breakfast would be secured en route with the cow outfit。 There were a dozen large…calibre rifles in scabbards； and burdening ourselves with two heavy guns to the man and an abundance of ammunition； we abandoned Quarantine Station No。 1 for the time being。 The camp which we were to touch at was the one nearest the river and north of Wolf Creek； and we galloped up to it before the sun had even risen。 Since everything was coming our way； Sponsilier and I observed a strict neutrality； but a tow…headed Texan rallied the outfit； saying：
〃Make haste； fellows； and saddle up your horses。 Those three herds which raised such a rumpus up on Little Powder have sent down word that they're going to cross our dead…line to…day if they have to prize up hell and put a chunk under it。 We have decided to call their bluff before they even reach the line； and make them show their hand for all this big talk。 Here's half a dozen guns and cartridges galore； but hustle yourselves。 Fred went into Powderville last night and will meet us above at the twin buttes this morning with every cowman in town。 All the other outfits have been sent for； and we'll have enough men to make our bluff stand up； never fear。 From what I learn； these herds belong to a lot of Yankee speculators； and they don't give a tinker's dam if all the cattle in Montana die from fever。 They're no better than anybody else； and if we allow them to go through； they'll leave a trail of dead natives that will stink us out of this valley。 Make haste； everybody。〃
I could see at a glance that the young Texan had touched their pride。 The foreman detailed three men to look after the herd； and the balance made hasty preparations to accompany the quarantine guards。 A relief was rushed away for the herders； and when the latter came in； they reported having sighted the posse from Powderville； heading across country for the twin buttes。 Meanwhile a breakfast had been bolted by the guards； Sponsilier； and myself； and swinging into our saddles； we rounded a bluff bend of the creek and rode for the rendezvous； some three miles distant。 I noticed by the brands that nearly every horse in that country had been born in Texas； and the short time in which we covered the intervening miles proved that the change of climate had added to their stability and bottom。 Our first glimpse of the meeting…point revealed the summit of the buttes fairly covered with horsemen。 From their numbers it was evident that ours was the last contingent to arrive； but before we reached the twin mounds； the posse rode down from the lookout and a courier met and turned us from our course。 The lead herd had been sighted in trail formation but a few miles distant； heading north； and it was the intention to head them at the earliest moment。 The messenger inquired our numbers； and reported those arrived at forty…five； making the posse when united a few over sixty men。
A juncture of forces was effected within a mile of the lead herd。 It was a unique posse。 Old frontiersmen； with patriarchal beards and sawed…off shotguns； chewed their tobacco complacently as they rode forward at a swinging gallop。 Beardless youths； armed with the old buffalo guns of their fathers； led the way as if an Indian invasion had called them forth。 Soldiers of fortune； with Southern accents； who were assisting in the conquest of a new empire； intermingled with the hurrying throng； and two men whose home was in Medina County； Texas； looked on and approved。 The very horses had caught the inspiration of the moment； champing bits in their effort to forge to the front rank； while the blood…stained slaver coated many breasts or driveled from our boots。 Before we met the herd a halt was called； and about a dozen men were deployed off on each flank； while the main body awaited the arrival of the cattle。 The latter were checked by the point…men and turned back when within a few hundred yards of the main posse。 Several horsemen from the herd rode forward； and one politely inquired the meaning of this demonstration。 The question was met by a counter one from Captain Ullmer； who demanded to know the reason why these cattle should trespass on the rights of others and ignore local quarantine。 The spokesman in behalf of the herd turned in his saddle and gave an order to send some certain person forward。 Sponsilier whispered to me that this fellow was merely a segundo。 〃But wait till the 'major…domo' arrives；〃 he added。 The appearance of the posse and the halting of the herd summoned that personage from the rear to the front； and the next moment he was seen galloping up the column of cattle。 With a plausible smile this high mogul； on his arrival； repeated the previous question； and on a similar demand from the captain of the posse； he broke into a jolly laugh from which he recovered with difficulty。
〃Why； gentlemen；〃 said he； every word dripping with honeyed sweetness； 〃this is entirely uncalled for。 I assure you that it was purely an oversight on my part that I did not send you word in advance that these herds of mine are government cattle and not subject to local quarantine。 My associates are the largest army contractors in the country； these cattle are due at Fort Buford on the 15th of this month； and any interference on your part would be looked upon as an insult to the government。 In fact； the post commander at Fort Laramie insisted that he be permitted to send a company of cavalry to escort us across Wyoming； and assured us that a troop from Fort Keogh； if requested； would meet our cattle on the Montana line。 The army is jealous over its supplies； but I declined all military protection； knowing that I had but to show my credentittls to pass unmolested anywhere。 Now； if you care to look over these papers； you will see that these cattle are en route to Fort Buford； on an assignment of the original contract； issued by the secretary of war to The Western Supply Company。 Very sorry to put you to all this trouble； but these herds must not be interfered with。 I trust that you gentlemen understand that the government is supreme。〃
As the papers mentioned were produced； Sponsilier kicked me on the shin； gave me a quiet wink； and nodded towards the documents then being tendered to Captain Ullmer。 Groping at his idea； I rode forward； and as the papers were being returned with a mere glance on the part of the quarantine leader； I politely asked if I might see the assignment of the original contract。 But a quizzical smile met my request； and shaking out the heavy parchment； he rapped it with the knuckles of his disengaged hand； remarking as he returned it to his pocket； 〃Sorry； but altogether too valuable to allow out of my possession。 Just what I would have done with the beribboned document； except to hand it over to Sponsilier； is beyond me； yet I was vaguely conscious that its destruction was of importance to our side of the matter at issue。 At the same instant in which my request was declined； the big medicine man turned to Captain Ullmer and suavely remarked； 〃You found everything as represented； did you？〃
〃Why； I heard your statement； and I have also heard it disputed from other sources。 In fact I have nothing to do with you except to enforce the quarantine now established by the cattlemen of eastern Montana。 If you have any papers showing that your herds were wintered north of latitude 37； you can pass； as this quarantine is only enforced against cattle from south of that degree。 This territory lost half a million dollars' worth of native stock last fall from Texas fever； and this season they propose to apply the ounce of preventive。 You will have ample time to reach your destination after frost falls； and your detention by quarantine will be a good excuse for your delay。 Now； unless you can convince me that your herds are immune； I'll show you a good place to camp on the head of Wolf Creek。 It will probably be a matter of ten to fifteen days befor