alla and were in possession of ranch outfits who
owned ranges farther north, and were anxious to see quarantine enforced.
These local cowmen would support the established authority, and trouble
was expected. Sponsilier and I widened the breach by denouncing these
intruders as the hirelings of a set of ringsters, who had no regard
for the rights of any one, and volunteered our services in enforcing
quarantine against them the same as others.

Our services were gratefully accepted. The next morning we were
furnished fresh horses, and one of us was requested, as we were
strangers, to ride down the country and reconnoitre the advance of
the defiant drovers. As I was fearful that Field or Radcliff might
be accompanying the herds, and recognize me, Sponsilier went instead,
returning late that evening.

"Well, fellows," said Dave, as he dismounted at the quarantine camp,
"I've seen the herds, and they propose to cross this dead-line of yours
as easily as water goes through a gourd funnel. They'll be here by noon
to-morrow, and they've got the big conversation right on tap to show
that the government couldn't feed its army if it wasn't for a few big
cowmen like them. There's a strange corporal over the three herds and
they're working on five horses to the man. But the major-domo's the
whole works; he's a windy cuss, and intimates that he has a card or two
up his sleeve that will put these quarantine guards to sleep when he
springs them. He's a new man to me; at least he wasn't with the gang at
Ogalalla."

During the absence of my partner, I had ridden the dead-line on the
north. A strip of country five miles wide was clear of cattle above the
boundary, while below were massed four herds, claiming the range from
the mountains to the Powder River. The leader of the quarantine guards,
Fred Ullmer, had accompanied me on the ride, and on our return we
visited three of the outfits, urging them to hold all their reserve
forces subject to call, in case an attempt was made to force the
dead-line. At each camp I took every possible chance to sow the seeds
of dissension and hatred against the high-handed methods of The Western
Supply Company. Defining our situation clearly, I asked each foreman, in
case these herds defied local authority, who would indemnify the owners
for the loss among native cattle by fever between Powderville and the
mouth of the Yellowstone. Would the drovers? Would the government?
Leaving these and similar though