The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wells Brothers, by Andy Adams

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Title: Wells Brothers

Author: Andy Adams

Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12791]

Language: English

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***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELLS BROTHERS***

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WELLS BROTHERS

The Young Cattle Kings

by

ANDY ADAMS

1911

[Illustration: THEY CHANGED TO FRESH ONES AT NOON (p.26)]

CONTENTS

I. WAIFS OF THE PLAIN
II. THE HOSPITAL ON THE BEAVER
III. THE BOTTOM RUNG
IV. THE BROTHERS CLAIM A RANGE
V. A FALL OF CRUMBS
VI. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
VII. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK
VIII. THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT
IX. A WINTRY CRUCIBLE
X. GOOD FIGHTING
XI. HOLDING THE FORT
XII. A WINTER DRIFT
XIII. A WELCOME GUEST
XIV. AN ILL WIND
XV. WATER! WATER!
XVI. A PROTECTED CREDIT
XVII. "THE WAGON"
XVIII. AN OPEN WINTER
XIX. AN INDIAN SCARE
XX. HARVEST ON THE RANGE
XXI. LIVING IN THE SADDLE
XXII. INDEPENDENCE

CHAPTER I

WAIFS OF THE PLAIN

The first herd of trail cattle to leave Dodge City, Kansas, for the
Northwest, during the summer of 1885, was owned by the veteran drover,
Don Lovell. Accidents will happen, and when about midway between the
former point and Ogalalla, Nebraska, a rather serious mishap befell
Quince Forrest, one of the men with the herd. He and the horse wrangler,
who were bunkies, were constantly scuffling, reckless to the point of
injury, the pulse of healthy manhood beating a constant alarm to
rough contest.

The afternoon previous to the accident, a wayfaring man had overtaken
the herd, and spent the night with the trail outfit. During the evening,
a flock of sand-hill cranes was sighted, when the stranger expressed a
wish to secure a specimen of the bird for its splendid pl