, 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 credentials 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 Supp