of them, for they
ceased their grazing by the wayside and swung into a rapid pace, such a pace as
always gladdens the heart of the cowboy. The steers held it until the rays of
the setting sun were reflected on the surface of the broad sluggish stream.
The Pony Riders dashed forward intent upon reaching the stream first. Tad
followed them upon receiving permission from the foreman to do so.
The banks on each side were high and steep, making it far from an ideal
fording place. Stallings, however, thought it better to cross there than to take
the time to work the herd further down. Joining the boys, he cast his glance up
and down the stream to decide whether his judgment had been correct.
"I thought we were going to cross the river," said Stacy Brown.
"That's exactly what we are going to do," replied the foreman.
"But where's the bridge? I don't see any?" objected the lad.
"Right there in front of you."
"Where?"
"Chunky, there is no bridge," Tad informed him. "We have to wade, just as the
cattle will."
"And swim, too, part of the way," added Stallings.
"But we'll get wet," wailed Chunky.
"No doubt about that," roared the foreman.
"Swim the river with our horses?" exclaimed Ned. "Hurrah! That will be
great!"
"I shall be glad to get some of this dust washed off me," laughed Tad.
"Besides, the bump on my head will feel better for it, I think."
"Spread out, boys. The cattle are coming up on the run. They will push you
into the river before you are ready if you happen to be in their way," warned
Stallings.
The riders clucked to their ponies and all galloped up stream some distance
that they might be well out of the way of the oncoming herd.
The thirsty animals plunged into the water with a mighty splash. Some forded
until their feet could no longer touch the ground, after which they swam to the
other side, while others paused to drink until those behind them forced them out
into the stream also.
In a few moments the stream was alive with swimming cattle, the herd being
spread out for a full quarter of a mile up and down the stream. To the rear,
yelling cowboys were urging on the stragglers and forcing the herd into the cool
waters.
It was an inspiring sight for the boys.
Here and there a cowman would ride his pony into the water and turn the
leaders, who were straying too far up or down the river.
After half an hour of watering, the men began to force the cattle to the
opposite bank. There was a great scramble when the steers started to climb the
steep bluff. The first ones to try it went half way up on a run.
Losing their footing they came tumbling to the foot of the bluff, knocking a
number of the other cattle back into the water.
There was much bellowing and floundering about, but the relentless forcing
from the other side swept the unfortunate ones to the crest of the tide and up
the steep bank.
Now that the loose dirt had slipped down the footing grew more secure, and
the animals soon fell into trails of their own making, up which they crept three
and four abreast.
Once on the other side they started to graze as contentedly as if they had
not just passed through a most trying experience.
Two of the cowmen who had forded the stream further down, now appeared
opposite the main fording place, to take charge of the cattle.
"Get across, boys," shouted the foreman.
With an answering shout Tad and Ned slid their ponies down the sharp bluff,
plunging into the water and heading straight across.
"Slip out of your saddles and hang on!" called the foreman.
Without an instant's hesitation the two boys slid into the water with a
splash, but keeping tight hold on the pommels of their saddles.
"Let go the reins," directed Stallings. "The ponies know where to go."
Now the lads were being drawn rapidly through the water, and almost before
they knew it their feet rested on the bottom of the shallow stream a short
distance from the opposite bank.
"Hooray!" shouted Tad, waving his
ceased their grazing by the wayside and swung into a rapid pace, such a pace as
always gladdens the heart of the cowboy. The steers held it until the rays of
the setting sun were reflected on the surface of the broad sluggish stream.
The Pony Riders dashed forward intent upon reaching the stream first. Tad
followed them upon receiving permission from the foreman to do so.
The banks on each side were high and steep, making it far from an ideal
fording place. Stallings, however, thought it better to cross there than to take
the time to work the herd further down. Joining the boys, he cast his glance up
and down the stream to decide whether his judgment had been correct.
"I thought we were going to cross the river," said Stacy Brown.
"That's exactly what we are going to do," replied the foreman.
"But where's the bridge? I don't see any?" objected the lad.
"Right there in front of you."
"Where?"
"Chunky, there is no bridge," Tad informed him. "We have to wade, just as the
cattle will."
"And swim, too, part of the way," added Stallings.
"But we'll get wet," wailed Chunky.
"No doubt about that," roared the foreman.
"Swim the river with our horses?" exclaimed Ned. "Hurrah! That will be
great!"
"I shall be glad to get some of this dust washed off me," laughed Tad.
"Besides, the bump on my head will feel better for it, I think."
"Spread out, boys. The cattle are coming up on the run. They will push you
into the river before you are ready if you happen to be in their way," warned
Stallings.
The riders clucked to their ponies and all galloped up stream some distance
that they might be well out of the way of the oncoming herd.
The thirsty animals plunged into the water with a mighty splash. Some forded
until their feet could no longer touch the ground, after which they swam to the
other side, while others paused to drink until those behind them forced them out
into the stream also.
In a few moments the stream was alive with swimming cattle, the herd being
spread out for a full quarter of a mile up and down the stream. To the rear,
yelling cowboys were urging on the stragglers and forcing the herd into the cool
waters.
It was an inspiring sight for the boys.
Here and there a cowman would ride his pony into the water and turn the
leaders, who were straying too far up or down the river.
After half an hour of watering, the men began to force the cattle to the
opposite bank. There was a great scramble when the steers started to climb the
steep bluff. The first ones to try it went half way up on a run.
Losing their footing they came tumbling to the foot of the bluff, knocking a
number of the other cattle back into the water.
There was much bellowing and floundering about, but the relentless forcing
from the other side swept the unfortunate ones to the crest of the tide and up
the steep bank.
Now that the loose dirt had slipped down the footing grew more secure, and
the animals soon fell into trails of their own making, up which they crept three
and four abreast.
Once on the other side they started to graze as contentedly as if they had
not just passed through a most trying experience.
Two of the cowmen who had forded the stream further down, now appeared
opposite the main fording place, to take charge of the cattle.
"Get across, boys," shouted the foreman.
With an answering shout Tad and Ned slid their ponies down the sharp bluff,
plunging into the water and heading straight across.
"Slip out of your saddles and hang on!" called the foreman.
Without an instant's hesitation the two boys slid into the water with a
splash, but keeping tight hold on the pommels of their saddles.
"Let go the reins," directed Stallings. "The ponies know where to go."
Now the lads were being drawn rapidly through the water, and almost before
they knew it their feet rested on the bottom of the shallow stream a short
distance from the opposite bank.
"Hooray!" shouted Tad, waving his
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