The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-22
be turned over to the Stock associa
ton for the benefit of owners.

tion for the benefit of owners.
The very first pocket raided started
row and uncovered so head of five
year-old steers bearing a mutilated
Duck Bar brand. 1t was like poking
at rattlesnakes to undertake to clean
cut the grassy retreats of the Cache,
but the work was pushed on in spite
OF protests, threats, and resistance
Every man that rode out openly to
make a protest was referred calmly to
Rebstock, and before very long Reb-
stocks cabin had more men around
it than had been seen together in the
Cache for years. The impression that
the whole jig was up, and that the
refugees had been sold out by their
own boss, was one that no railroad
man undertook to discourage. The
cowboys insisted on the cattle, with
the assurance that Rebstock could ex-
plain everything. BY noon the Cache
was in an uproar. The cowboys were
riding carefully, and their guards,
rifles in hand, were watching the cor
ners. Ahead of the slowly moving
line with the growing bunch of cattle
behind it, fiourished as it were rather
conspicuousiy, fugitive riders dashed
back and forth with curses and yells
across the narrow valley. If it had
been Whispering Smiths intention to
raise large-sized row 1t was apparent
that he had been successful. Reb.
stock, driven to desperation, held coun.
Gil after council to determine what to
do. Sorties were discussed, ambushes
considered, and pitched battle was
planned. But, while ideas were plenti-
full, no one aspired to lead an attack
on Whispering Smith
Moreover, Williams Cache, it was
conceded, would in the end be worsted
If the company and the cowmen to-
gether seriously undertook with men
and unlimited money to clean it out.
Whispering Smiths party had no ex-
PLANTATION to offer for the roundup, but
when Rebstock made it known that
the fight was over sending out Du
Sang, the rage of the rustlers turned
on Du Sang. Again, however, no man
wanted to take up personally with Du
Sang the question Of the reasonable
ness of Whispering Smiths demand.
Instead of doing so, they fell on Reb-
stock and demanded that IL he were
boss he make good and send Du Sang
out.
OF all this commotion the railroad
men saw only the outward indications.
AS the excitement grew on both sides
there was perhaps little more of dis
play in the way the cattle were run in,
especially when some long-lost bunch
was brought to light and welcomed
with yells from the center. A steer
was killed at noon, everybody fed, and
the line moved forward. The wind.
which had slept In the sunshine of the
morning, rose in the afternoon, and
the dust whirled in little clouds where
men or animals moved. From the cen
ter two men had gone back with the
cattle gathered up to that time, and
Bill Dancing, with Smith, Stormy Cor
man, and two of the cowboys, were
heading draw to cross to the north
side Of the Cache, when three men
rode out into the road 500 yards ahead
and halted.
Whispering Smith spoke: There
come our men; stop here. This ground
in front of us looks good to me; they
may have chosen something over there
that suits them better. Feel your guns
and We'll start forward slowly; don't
take your eyes off the bunch, what.
ever you do. Bill, you go back and
help the men with the cattle; there
will be four Of US against three then"
mot for mine!" said Bill Dancing,
bluntly you may need help from an
old fool yet. I'll see you through this
and look after the cattle afterward'
Then, Stormy. one or two of you
go back" urged Whispering Smith,
speaking to the cowboy foreman with
out turning his eyes. There's no need
of five of us in this"
But Stormy swore violently. "You
go back yourself" exclaimed Stormy,
when he could control his feelings.
"We'll bring them fellows in for you
in ten minutes with their hands in
the air."
II know you would; I know it. But