CHAPTER XI
THE LONG TRAIL
After leaving Jordan and Warden, Lawler walked across the railroadtracks and entered the station, where he sent a telegram to Keppler, thebuyer at Red Rock. Then he drew a chair over near the door and sat downto await an answer. At the end of an hour the agent walked over toLawler and gave him the reply. It was from Keppler, saying that he wouldbe glad to buy all of the Circle L cattle at thirty dollars a head.
Lawler stuck the telegram in a pocket and went out, mounting Red Kingand riding through Willets. Darkness had come, and there were fewpersons on the street, and Lawler did not stop. A little later he wastalking with Blackburn at the camp fire, his voice low and earnest.
Blackburn's face was seamed with wrath over the news Lawler hadcommunicated.
"So that's the polecat scheme they're runnin'!" he said, hoarsely. "Ireckon they know that between here an' Red Rock there's a dozen biggangs of buzzards which make a business of grabbin' cattle from everyherd that hits the Tom Long trail!"
"Blackburn," said Lawler gravely; "do you know of any other trail?"
"No; nor you don't neither!" declared the range boss. "What youmeanin'?" he added, peering intently at Lawler.
"It's mighty plain," said Lawler; "if we travel at all, we'll have totake the Tom Long trail. It's been used before, Blackburn, by all thecattle owners in the section--before the railroad came. It hasn't beenused much lately, though, and so I reckon it isn't worn out."
"You're startin' at daybreak, I reckon?"
"Yes." Lawler looked straight at the range boss. "Some of the boys whoare with us don't know the Tom Long trail, Blackburn. You'd better tellthem there are prospects for trouble. No man goes on that trail with mycattle under regular working orders. It's volunteer work. But you mightmention to them that if we get through the difference between whatWarden offered me and what I get from Keppler, will be divided among themen of the outfit. That will be in addition to regular trail herdwages."
"That's mighty white of you, Boss. But I reckon there'd be noback-slidin'. The boys ain't admirin' the deal you're gettin'. I'mtellin' them."
He took a step away from Lawler, and then halted, uncertainly.
"Lawler," he said; "you've been over the Tom Long trail--you know whatit is. There's places where we'll find eight thousand head to be amighty big herd. A herd that big will be powerful hard to handle in someof them long passes. An' if they'd get in some of that timber we'd neverget them out. We've got twenty-eight men. If we'd have an open winterwe'd likely be able to take care of about three thousand head bywatchin' them close. Now, if we'd leave about three thousand head at theCircle L--with four or five of the boys to keep an eye on them, thatwould leave us about twenty-three or twenty-four men for trail herdwork. That won't be any too many for five thousand head of cattle on theTom Long trail. Unless you're figgerin' to hire some hands from anotheroutfit?"
"We're asking no favors," said Lawler. "We're driving five thousand, asyou suggest. I'm leaving the selecting of the trail crew to you--youknow your men."
At dawn the following morning the big herd was divided into about theproportions suggested by Blackburn. The smaller section, escorted byfive disgruntled Circle L cowboys, moved slowly southward, while themain herd headed eastward, flanked at the sides by grim-faced Circle Lriders; at the rear by a number of others and by Lawler, Blackburn; the"chuck-wagon" driven by the cook--a portly, solemn-visaged man of fortywith a thin, complaining voice; the "hoodlum" wagon, equipped withbedding and a meager stock of medicines and supplies foremergencies--driven by a slender, fiercely mustached man jocoselyreferred to as "Doc;" and a dozen horses of the _remuda_, in charge ofthe horse-wrangler and an assistant.
It was the first trail herd that had been started eastward since thecoming of the railroad. To some of the Circle L men it was a novelexperience--for they had begun range work since the railroad hadappeared. There were several others, rugged, hardy range riders of thedays when the driving of a trail herd was an annual experience, it was aharking back to the elemental and the crude, with the attendanthardships and ceaseless, trying work. The younger men were exultant,betraying their exuberance in various ways--shouting, laughing, singing,gayly bantering one another as they capered beside the cattle; but theolder men rode grimly on, grinning tolerantly, knowing that the timewould come when the faces of the younger men would grow stern and setfrom the ceaseless activity, the long night watches, the deadly monotonyand the thousand inconveniences of the long drive.
Many of Willets' men were watching the departure of the herd. They stoodon the street, in doorways; and in some windows were women. For rumorhad been whispering during the past few days, and it was known that KaneLawler had defied the powerful forces which were attempting to controlthe mediums of trade in the section; and there were many of the watcherswho sent silent applause after the departing herd. They were aware ofthe hazards that confronted Lawler and his men--hazards enough withoutthe additional menace of the invisible power, of which most of theinhabitants of Willets knew nothing.
However, Caldwell knew. He was standing in the doorway of the WilletsHotel; and his face was drawn and seamed with gravity as he watched.
Gary Warden knew. For he stood in the street in front of the Wolf,watching, his eyes glowing with malice.
Singleton knew. He was standing near Warden, in the grip of a malignanticipation. His lips were bestially pouted.
"Showed yellow at the last minute," he whispered to Warden; "onlydrivin' about half of them. Well, we'll take care of them he's leavin'before the winter's over."
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