The Ranch on the Beaver
by Andy Adams
The Spring Campaign
In its cattle and acreage, the present venture far exceeded the Arickaree purchase, and with a liability almost equal to that of the latter range. To take over a breeding ranch required a courage that few cowmen possessed; but a necessity, akin to that destiny that shapes our ends, compelled the brothers to look to the ranges of the Southwest for their future supply of cattle. The Albion Ranch, neglected, bankrupt, became a necessary link in the chain of ranges under the management of two boys, and in the simple production of one of the staples of life.
'Boys,' said the old ranchman to Joel and Forrest, aboard the train en route home, 'it takes all kinds of people to make a world, even in cattle matters. I can't recall any one who could take that old Albion Ranch and put it on its feet like you two. With a Northern range, you can shape up your holdings, mature your beef, and place your mother cows on a thrifty, vigorous basis. I couldn't handle that ranch at any price. I'm land and cattle poor. But I catch the drift of your plans; you boys will pull that ranch out of its present bog hole. Those bankers will never forgive me, but really they ought to shake hands with themselves all day over their wonderful luck. The ranch was a dead horse on their hands. Yes, they sold an elephant to real cowmen.'
The return trip became a social jaunt. On reaching the Stoddard headquarters, Dell was found a willing Caliban, bearing logs for every Miss Miranda on the ranch.
'Wearing your Sunday suit every day, are you?' questioned Joel. 'Think you may settle down in this country?'
Dell ignored all questions.
'Well, we bought the ranch,' continued the other, 'and we'll leave it in the morning to put Quince in charge. He'll lay the summer plans and act as lookout until we take possession. Better go along.'
'I simply can't,' loftily answered the younger one. 'The girls and I have planned a ride for to-morrow afternoon. We're going out to an old Indian camp, burying ground on poles, and the like. There's old mortars there where the squaws ground their corn. I want to see all that plunder while I'm here.'
'By all means,' replied Joel, with a touch of irony. 'That's important. Next to buying a ranch, that old Indian encampment is of right smart consequence.'
The older boy and Forrest left at sunrise for the new ranch. Near noon of the second day, they reached their destination, and notice of a change of owners was welcome news to those in charge. Such accounts as were kept were brought forward, and from the most available sources at hand it was believed that the brand would tally up to expectations. Several days of constant riding confirmed the belief, and an intelligent outline on the situation was reached.
'The first hard work on this ranch,' said the new foreman, 'is to prune out this dead wood. Between now and taking possession. I'll build a spaying platform and swing my windlasses. Within a year or two, these mongrel colors will pass into beef stuff. The knife is what this ranch needs.'
Another item, of more than ordinary worth, was in the two bands of stock horses. The dams were improved Spanish mares, the sires selected from saddle breeds, while the offspring reflected some man's foresight in an ideal horse for cattle use.
'Just what the ranch needs,' agreed Forrest. 'It gives you about thirty geldings coming on every spring, to build up your saddle stock. It beats buying horses. At idle times we can gentle the geldings to the saddle. Any time that this ranch don't need them, you can send a car of young horses to your beef ranges.'
Until date of possession, the foreman would remain at the newly acquired ranch. Supplies must be laid in against assuming active management, and, in taking his leave, an old Texas custom of escorting the departing guest a few miles, at least, was duly observed.
'Here's where we pull together,' said the boy to Forrest. 'The management of this ranch is in your hands. If my plans work out, I may call on you for all the twos and over, in steers. They ought to have the benefit of the coming summer in the upper country. Arrangements to that effect are still a trifle misty; I don't see my way clearly. But I'll be back to clerk for you during delivery week and to take possession. Somewhere from three weeks to a month.'
The return ride was made with two relay horses under rope. The advantage of a change of mounts lessened the task, and the long ride was covered with frequent shifts of the saddle. Joel had been absent from the Stoddard Ranch over a week, and with the spring advancing, he was anxious to return to the home range.
'What's the use of my going home?' protested Dell, when the older one outlined his plans. I'f you're coming back within a month, I might as well stay here.'
'You might, but you won't,' answered Joel. 'Recess is over; it's books with you now. If you stayed here much longer, you might wear out your new suit. If the boys on the Beaver have had any spring storms, you'll have to take out a wagon and go on the spring round-up. So lay off that pink shirt and get into the collar again. Make your adieus, because we're due to catch the first train for home.'
The older boy's return was a hail and farewell call. The ambulance was ordered out, and, while Dell complained to the family of the injustice of outrageous fortune, its host and the older boy were engaged in more serious affairs.
'I brought down an extra horse,' explained Joel, 'so as not to bother you any further. My only regret is, that we may never be able to repay you. I hope the chance will come some day.'
'If not to me, don't miss the chance to show it to some one else. Still, your chance may be right at hand.'
A pause followed. 'You mean?' queried the boy. ' I hardly understand you.'
'Well, you heard me complain of being land and cattle poor, and I've thrown out hints of no buyers in sight. This ranch has full thirty-five hundred steers coming twos. What am I going to do with them?' The boy looked the old cattle baron squarely in the eye. 'Wait until I come back and I'll talk to you. If a summer range can be secured for through cattle, I'll take the strain off your ranch.'
The brothers barely touched at Fort Worth on their homeward journey. A pointed call was made at the bank, details of delivery discussed, and the homing trip continued. On arriving at Kansas City, the commission firm was visited and there a welcome awaited the boys at the hands of Major Hunt. The latter was aware of some deal pending by the reference and the presentation of a draft for payment, and explanations followed.
'My idea exactly,' said the old factor approvingly. 'You must expand your business. A foothold in the breeding grounds of Texas is an absolute necessity. What can we do for you?'
'Well,' admitted Joel, 'our account with you is in red ink. There are over three thousand young steers on this ranch, coming twos and threes, that ought to be moved to a Northern range this spring. We'll have to ship them and a freight bill must be met.'
Major Hunt made a hasty calculation. 'About one hundred cars,' he announced, 'or four trains. Say at two dollars a head, six or seven thousand dollars will cover the freight and feed bills. We'll take care of that. What else?'
'We'll both be busy from now on. Could you take up this matter of shipping for us?'
'Gladly. Give me your shipping point and destination.'
'Neither point is definite yet. Say from some station, tributary to the Pease River in the Texas Panhandle, to some common point on the Big Sandy in Colorado. That's as near as I can give them to you right now.'
'That's near enough. Anything further?'
'I'll not be back this way, and, if you can get me a pass from Denver to Fort Worth, it will come in handy. There's only the one railroad.'
The old factor made a memorandum of all the details. 'Now what else?' he questioned.
'That's all. Any idea what the winter's been, west on our ranges, since we dropped down the country?'
'A squally March. Short drifts of cattle reported.'
'There's work for you,' said Joel, turning to Dell.
The brothers left for home. The next evening found them on the Beaver. The outposts had been abandoned and the line-riders were at the main camp. Report of a stormy March was confirmed; several drifts of cattle had crossed the Prairie Dog, the emergency camp on the latter had been called into use, while the possible loss of cattle adrift was a debatable question.
'It doesn't matter,' said the older boy; 'you lads won't have anything to do but to go after them. The Smoky will be the limit of this winter's drift. We got off easy.'
A single day was spent on the Beaver, when Joel announced his intention to cross to the Arickaree. Dell threw out a number of hints, looking to an invitation.
'You needn't hint around me,' said the older one. 'Until further orders, your place is right here on the Beaver. Another trip to Texas and you would be useless. Lay off those good clothes and climb into the saddle again.'
''You surely don't mean,' protested Quinlin, with injured innocence, 'that during idle days Dell and I can't drop down and call on Bessie Blair?'
'Of course,' replied Joel, meeting Quinlin's banter, 'it's all right to be neighborly. Be sure and take Dell along, and let me know if any symptoms of romance crop out. He showed some funny signs in Texas recently, in kittening up to girls, but a good summer's work may save him.'
'I'll keep an eye over him,' assuredly vouched Quinlin. 'I know those symptoms; boys about Dell's age show them along about the last days of school. Folks call it spring fever, but that isn't the right name. Still, I think Dell will like Bessie.'
Joel left for the Arickaree. His arrival was a surprise to the ranch, which reported having weathered the spring storms with little or no cattle missing. The pressing question was to secure a summer range, and with that end in view the matter was referred to Sargent. 'We want to bring the new cattle as near home as possible,' suggested the boy.
'Any ranch running stock cattle ought to want them,' said the foreman. 'Branding calves in the fall won't disturb through steers very much, and the cows and water will hold them. There are several stock ranches on the head of the Arickaree and on the South Fork of the Republican. We'll saddle up and circle around among the neighbors a few days.'
A week was spent, and two ranges, one conditionally, were selected, west on the Arickaree and South Fork, the trip ending at River Bend on the Big Sandy. 'Fifty cents a head is nothing for summering a steer,' said Sargent. 'Better pay it than to overstock your range. The extra finish that you'll get on your beeves will meet the bill. Let your shipments come a week apart, and I can meet any new cattle with my own outfit.'
'Leave room for three men. We'll have to use ranch hands for shippers and give them jobs.'
Joel wired his location to Major Hunt, and received advice to report to the offices of a railroad in Denver. On presenting himself at the capital city, he was welcomed by the live-stock agent of the road, and, with a map before them, the two went over the details of the proposed shipment. The agent was a practical man, and once the summer ranges and the location of the Panhandle ranch were pointed out, the live-stock solicitor summed up the situation at a glance.
'Grass and water being important items,' said he, 'Estelene, in the Panhandle, suggests itself as your nearest and best shipping point. Coming in from the headwaters of the Pease, you'll find the corrals on your side; no railroad tracks to cross, immense wings to the chute leading into the yards. A shipping crew, a cow to lure in your herd -- oh, you'll find everything right at hand! Now, about a thirty-six hours' run will lay your trains down about here, say at Sidney, in Colorado, or on the headwaters of the big Sandy. Or we'll build you an unloading chute between stations. A few days' drive, and your cattle are on their summer ranges. It beats trailing them overland. Besides, our road is giving you cowmen a passenger schedule on through cattle. You see, we expect to ship them again, as beeves. Try our road once, and you wouldn't trail cattle with the country open and quarantine lifted.'
Cautious as ever, Joel made a few general inquiries. Cattle were liable to be moving to Northern ranges in such numbers as to tax the carrying capacity of any railroad, and, with a summer range secure, expansion was the policy of the brothers.
'We can use about ten thousand cattle in restocking our beef ranges,' said he, 'and have a second herd in view, a few stations lower on the Pease River. Could you handle it on a week or ten days' notice?'
'Easily. Take your shipments up with me by wire, and I'll put it up to the freight department to handle your cattle. We have borrowed a thousand extra cars for the month of May.'
Instead of a pass, Joel Wells might have had a private car for the mere asking. He was more at home, however, in the caboose of a cattle train; in fact, completing his journey in a freight, having dropped off at the suggested shipping station in the Panhandle. The yards, their approach, a general survey of the surrounding country and its sustenance, were studied to advantage. A horse had been left at his destination, and by ten o'clock of the same night he rode into the Stoddard Ranch.
'I can talk to you now,' said the boy to his host. 'The question of a summer range is settled.'
'Can you use my twos?' inquired Mr. Stoddard.
'If you'll deliver them on the Big Sandy and wait for your money until we thrash our buckwheat.'
'What's the freight?'
'A trifle over two dollars a head.'
'What are they worth to you?'
'We paid sixteen dollars for Tin Cup twos at Trail City last fall. How do they compare with yours?'
'Same country, same cattle. How many can you use?'
'Your straight twos, and all the knotty threes that you want to throw in for good measure.'
The old ranchman strolled around the room. 'Let me sleep over it first. When I awake in the morning, I'll answer you.'
'You deliver your cattle here in the shipping pens and we'll receive them at their destination in Colorado. Considering time, wear and tear of horses, and general expense, there isn't over a dollar a head difference between shipping or trailing a herd. And a quiet summer on the cattle on the upper ranges ought to be worth that amount.'
With the men of the open, sleep possessed a magic charm. The concerns of the day were forgotten, and the troubles of yesterday were easily solved in the awakening hour. Only a few minor details remained to be agreed upon between host and guest, not the stroke of a pen being considered necessary between man and boy.
'Now, you're sure you won't raise the long yell,' said the ranchman the next morning to Joel, 'in case we tender a herd of over thirty-five hundred head? Our twos will run about that number, but I aim to saw off all my knotty threes on you. You're sure you won't kick on the numbers?'
'Only this,' warned the boy; 'if either you or Joe Manly try to slip a long yearling in on me as a two-year-old, I might enter a mild protest. But if you do, all I ask is not to laugh about it in my presence. Go off behind the corrals and roll on the grass, laughing over the long yearlings you delivered to me as twos. That's all I ask. Show good wagon manners.'
'Now, here,' said Manly, 'you must have heard of that trick in the upper country. Among old friends, this way, you can leave it to Uncle Dud and me to treat you white. You're an old friend, come a long ways, and we'll try and remember it. We'll not roll our wool in the sand, in order to sell you a few cattle.'
'You try any tricks on a customer of this ranch,' thundered the old cowman, 'and I'll take a rope and wear you out. I'll burn the ground with you. Come on, boys, mother's calling us to breakfast.'