of a rigid quarantine against
all through cattle. If this proved true, it was certainly an ill wind
to drovers on the Powder River route; yet I failed to see where we were
benefited until my employer got down to details.

"That's so," said he; "I forgot to tell you boys that when Reed and I
went back to Ogalalla, we found Field, Radcliff & Co. buying beeves.
Yes, they had bought a remuda of horses, rigged up two wagons, and
hired men to take possession of our 'Open A' and 'Drooping T' herds. But
meeting with disappointment and having the outfit on their hands, they
concluded to buy cattle and go ahead and make the delivery at Buford.
They simply had to do it or admit that I had called their hands. But
Reed and I raised such a howl around that town that we posted every man
with beeves for sale until the buyers had to pony up the cash for every
hoof they bought. We even hunted up young Murnane, the seller of the
herd that Jim Reed ran the attachment on; and before old Jim and I got
through with him, we had his promise not to move out of Keith County
until the last dollar was in hand. The buyers seemed to command all
kinds of money, but where they expect to make anything, even if they
do deliver, beats me, as Reed and I have got a good wad of their money.
Since leaving there, I have had word that they settled with Murnane,
putting a new outfit with the cattle, and that they have ten thousand
beef steers on the way to Fort Buford this very minute. They are coming
through on the North Platte and Powder River route, and if quarantine
can be enforced against them until frost falls, it will give us a clear
field at Buford on the day of delivery. Now it stands us in hand to see
that those herds are isolated until after the 15th day of September."

The atmosphere cleared instantly. I was well aware of the ravages of
splenic fever; but two decades ago every drover from Texas denied the
possibility of a through animal in perfect health giving a disease to
wintered Southerners or domestic cattle, also robust and healthy.
Time has demonstrated the truth, yet the manner in which the germ is
transmitted between healthy animals remains a mystery to this day,
although there has been no lack of theories advanced. Even the theorists
differed as to the manner of germ transmission, the sporule, tick, and
ship fever being the leading theories, and each having its advocates.
The latter was entitled to some consideration, for if bad usage and