Part 49 (1/2)

”I am terribly hurt but in a way it is of my own doing. I have just one thing to request: Ask the Reverend how d.i.c.k Hilton came to be here.”

But she had no one to send with it and Beck would be back on the morrow with the men to move the thirst tortured cattle. Besides, there must be another way than the despatch of such a message. That was too cold and formal. It would bring him humbly to her but she knew how he would suffer when his pride was hurt; and such a thing would do no less than hurt his pride. She would make it as easy as possible.

A let-down came and she cried and when she slept that night her dreams were not distressing.

CHAPTER XXII

THE REVEREND'S STRATEGY

Throughout the day the sun beat into the canon, its heat relieved by rare breezes of brief duration. What wind did come raised swirls of dust and rustled wilted foliage, for the country had become ash dry.

The cattle, most of them on their fourth waterless day, bawled dismally, a thirsty chorus rising as the day aged. They did not eat; they wandered rapidly about seeking moisture. Those spots of the creek bed which showed damp above and below Cole's fence were tramped to powder by uneasy hoofs and a narrow area outside the fence was cut to fluff by the restless wanderings of the suffering steers.

As afternoon came on they abandoned their futile search for unguarded drink and clung closer to the wire barrier, snuffing loudly as their nostrils drank in the smell of water as greedily as their throats would have swallowed the fluid itself. Their eyes became wider, wilder, and the bawling was without cessation. Flanks pumped the hot air into their bodies in rapid tempo and slaver hung from loose chops. The herd was in desperate condition.

Now and then a big beefer would rush the fence as if to tear his way through but the new wire and solid posts always flung them back. Again, another would push his head tentatively between the strands and attempt entrance by gentler methods, but always they were driven back either by one of the HC riders or by Cole himself.

By the time the sun was half way to the horizon the steers were moving in a compact ma.s.s back and forth along the fence, snuffing, crying, sobbing in dry throats, bodies growing more gaunt hourly as frenzy added its toll to physical suffering.

The bawling became a din. Big steers shook their heads and hooked at one another groggily. The first one went down and could not rise alone; the men ”tailed” him up and worked him to shade, where he sank to his side again, panting, drooling and silent.

”d.a.m.n an outfit like that!” growled Curtis, looking across the bunch to Cole, who stood staring back.

”There's goin' to be h.e.l.l a-poppin' here,” commented one of the men.

”They're waitin' for trouble an' you can't prevent 'em havin' it--”

”Look at that!”

A half dozen steers, surging against the fence, put their combined weight on a panel and the post gave with a snap.

Bobby ran forward, brandis.h.i.+ng a club, and drove them back as they floundered in the sagging wire, heedless of barbs, eyes protruding with want of the drink that dilated nostrils told them was near.

After he had propped the post up again the nester shook his fist at Curtis and shouted:

”I'll protect my property! You can protect yourn if you will. Th' next critter that breaks my fence gits lead in his carca.s.s!”

He slouched back to the cabin and came out a moment later with a rifle.

Seating himself on a stump he crossed his knees and with the weapon across his lap sat waiting.

”We'll bunch 'em so we can make a show at holdin' 'em tonight,” Curtis said. ”That'll save time in th' mornin' ... an' we'll need all our time.”

Forthwith he and the others began gathering the suffering stragglers in a loose bunch.

The Reverend came riding across the flat before this was completed. His face was serious and as he came close to the herd and saw the condition of the cattle he shook his head apprehensively.

”I fear, brother, that by another day there'll be little strength in those bodies to get 'em up to open water,” he said to Curtis.

”It'll be the devil's own job for sure! It'll take twenty men to move 'em and if we don't lose half we'll be lucky.