men, all having ridden direct
for their ranches. Long before the train arrived which would carry us to
Little Missouri, the opposition herds appeared and crossed the railroad
west of town. Their commissaries entered the village for supplies, while
the "major-domo," surrounded by a body-guard of men, rode about on his
miserable palfrey. The sheriff, fearing a clash between the victorious
and the vanquished, kept an eye on Sponsilier and me as we walked the
streets, freely expressing our contempt of Field, Radcliff & Co., their
henchmen and their methods. Dave and I were both nerved to desperation;
Sheriff Wherry, anxious to prevent a conflict, counciled with the
opposition drovers, resulting in their outfits leaving town, while the
principals took stage across to Buford.

Meanwhile Sponsilier had wired full particulars to our employer at Big
Horn. It was hardly necessary, as the frost no doubt was general all
over Montana, but we were anxious to get into communication with Lovell
immediately on his return to the railroad. We had written him from
Miles of our failure at Powderville, and the expected second stand at
Glendive, and now the elements had notified him that the opposition
herds were within striking distance, and would no doubt appear at Buford
on or before the day of delivery. An irritable man like our employer
would neither eat nor sleep, once the delivery at the Crow Agency was
over, until reaching the railroad, and our message would be awaiting him
on his return to Big Horn. Our train reached Little Missouri early in
the evening, and leaving word with the agent that we were expecting
important messages from the west, we visited the liveryman and inquired
about the welfare of our horses. The proprietor of the stable informed
us that they had fared well, and that he would have them ready for us on
an hour's notice. It was after dark and we were at supper when the first
message came. An immediate answer was required, and arising from the
table, we left our meal unfinished and hastened to the depot. From then
until midnight, messages flashed back and forth, Sponsilier dictating
while I wrote. As there was no train before the regular passenger the
next day, the last wire requested us to have the horses ready to meet
the Eastbound, saying that Bob Quirk would accompany Lovell.

That night it frosted again. Sponsilier and I slept until noon the next
day without awakening. Then the horses were brought in from pasture