The colonel dismounted and drove his mule in front of him, eight miles, to the ranche, where he confidently expected to find a good-natured, hilarious crowd spending the evening. Judge of his surprise, when he entered the room, to find the only person in it was Erastus Yager, whose actual name not one in a thousand knew, but who was universally known as “Red.” He was the Boniface and major-domo of the place.
To the inquiry, “Where is Plummer?” he replied that he was not there, and had not been there; and so, after reflecting a moment, the colonel had his mule put in the corral. He then sat down by the side of a very cheerful fire, made of the dry cottonwood obtainable not far distant, which blazed in a very ample fireplace such as in modern times is practically unknown, beguiling his disappointment as best he could.
Dr. Palmer was already asleep in the room, so the colonel unrolled his blankets, preparatory to making his bed on the floor, whereupon Yager invited him to sleep on the bed, a straw tick filled with swale grass, quite ample in its size, lying upon the floor in front of the fire; and, accepting this hospitable offer, he spread his blankets on the tick, and in a few moments had retired.
William Bunton, one of the proprietors of the establishment, appeared from the back room where his partner lay ill, and retired also upon the straw tick, and shortly after Yager followed suit, when the three, in one bed, were all soon in a sound sleep.
About two hours after they had retired, a boisterous noise was made upon the door by some individual who was outside, who also hallooed as loud as he could for admittance.
Yager got out of bed and proceeded around to the back of the bar where the liquid refreshments, so called, were dispensed, and lighted a candle, and taking in his hands a large shotgun which stood in the corner, started to the door and demanded to know who was there. After some hesitancy, he was told it was “Jack,” whereupon he proceeded to take down the bar that was across the door and so fastened at each end as to effectually serve the purpose of a lock. He then opened the door, and in stalked a member of Plummer’s party, the one who had remained in town behind the rest, and known all over that mining country as “Jack” Gallagher.
He was in very ill-humor. He had been looking for his party, and had been disappointed in not finding them, finally seeking shelter from the storm at the Rattlesnake ranche.
He said the snow had so covered the road that it could not be distinguished. He had been lost on the prairie and finally found the Rattlesnake. He had ridden up and down the valley a number of miles and failed to find the ranche. He complained that they had no light burning.
He said he was very hungry and that he wanted a drink. A bottle was set out for him, and he imbibed pretty freely once or twice. He then wanted something to eat without delay. He was informed that there was nothing to eat in the house, that the lady of the house had all she could do to take care of her husband, who was very ill and who would not probably recover, and that they were not prepared to entertain guests.
He expressed an entire indifference to the misfortunes of the household, and said he must have something to eat if it was no more than some bread, and became so importunate that Yager went to the back part of the house, and soon returned with a large tin pan partially filled with boiled beef. The pan was placed upon the bar, and Gallagher did ample justice to its contents, refreshing himself from time to time by frequent libations from the bottle of whiskey.