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promised。 Beyond the hill we stopped。 Here our party divided
again； half to the right and half to the left。 We had ridden； up to this time；
directly away from camp； now we rode a circumference of which
headquarters was the centre。 The country was pleasantly rolling and
covered with grass。 Here and there were clumps of soapweed。 Far in a
remote distance lay a slender dark line across the plain。 This we knew to
be mesquite； and once entered； we knew it； too； would seem to spread out
vastly。 And then this grassy slope； on which we now rode； would show
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merely as an insignificant streak of yellow。 It is also like that in Arizona。
I have ridden in succession through grass land； brush land； flower land；
desert。 Each in turn seemed entirely to fill the space of the plains
between the mountains。 From time to time Homer halted us and
detached a man。 The business of the latter was then to ride directly back
to camp； driving all cattle before him。 Each was in sight of his right…
and left…hand neighbour。 Thus was constructed a drag…net whose meshes
contracted as home was neared。 I was detached； when of our party
only the Cattleman and Homer remained。 They would take the outside。
This was the post of honour； and required the hardest riding； for as soon as
the cattle should realise the fact of their pursuit； they would attempt to
〃break〃 past the end and up the valley。 Brown Jug and I congratulated
ourselves on an exciting morning in prospect。 Now； wild cattle
know perfectly well what a drive means； and they do not intend to get into
a round…up if they can help it。 Were it not for the two facts； that they are
afraid of a mounted man； and cannot run quite so fast as a horse； I do not
know how the cattle business would be conducted。 As soon as a band of
them caught sight of any one of us； they curled their tails and away they
went at a long； easy lope that a domestic cow would stare at in wonder。
This was all very well； in fact we yelled and shrieked and otherwise
uttered cow…calls to keep them going； to 〃get the cattle started；〃 as they
say。 But pretty soon a little band of the many scurrying away before our
thin line； began to bear farther and farther to the east。 When in their
judgment they should have gained an opening； they would turn directly
back and make a dash for liberty。 Accordingly the nearest cowboy
clapped spurs to his horse and pursued them。 It was a pretty race。
The cattle ran easily enough； with long； springy jumps that carried them
over the ground faster than appearances would lead one to believe。 The
cow…pony； his nose stretched out； his ears slanted； his eyes snapping with
joy of the chase； flew fairly 〃belly to earth。〃 The rider sat slightly
forward； with the cowboy's loose seat。 A whirl of dust； strangely
insignificant against the immensity of a desert morning； rose from the
flying group。 Now they disappeared in a ravine； only to scramble out
again the next instant； pace undiminished。 The rider merely rose slightly
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and threw up his elbows to relieve the jar of the rough gully。 At first the
cattle seemed to hold their； own； but soon the horse began to gain。 In a
short time he had come abreast of the leading animal。
The latter stopped short with a snort； dodged back； and set out at right
angles to his former course。 From a dead run the pony came to a stand in
two fierce plunges； doubled like a shot； and was off on the other tack。 An
unaccustomed rider would here have lost his seat。 The second dash was
short。 With a final shake of the head； the steers turned to the proper
course in the direction of the ranch。 The pony dropped unconcernedly to
the shuffling jog of habitual progression。
Far away stretched the arc of our cordon。 The most distant rider
was a speck； and the cattle ahead of him were like maggots endowed with
a smooth； swift onward motion。 As yet the herd had not taken form； it
was still too widely scattered。 Its units； in the shape of small bunches；
momently grew in numbers。 The distant plains were crawling and alive
with minute creatures making toward a common tiny centre。
Immediately in our front the cattle at first behaved very well。 Then far
down the long gentle slope I saw a break for the upper valley。 The
manikin that represented Homer at once became even smaller as it
departed in pursuit。 The Cattleman moved down to cover Homer's
territory until he should returnand I in turn edged farther to the right。
Then another break from another bunch。 The Cattleman rode at top
speed to head it。 Before long he disappeared in the distant mesquite。 I
found myself in sole charge of a front three miles long。
The nearest cattle were some distance ahead； and trotting along at a
good gait。 As they had not yet discovered the chance left open by
unforeseen circumstance； I descended and took in on my cinch while yet
there was time。 Even as I mounted； an impatient movement on the part
of experienced Brown Jug told me that the cattle had seen their
opportunity。 I gathered the reins and spoke to the horse。 He
needed no further direction； but set off at a wide angle； nicely calculated；
to intercept the truants。 Brown Jug was a powerful beast。 The spring
of his leap was as whalebone。 The yellow earth began to stream past like
water。 Always the pace increased with a growing thunder of hoofs。 It
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seemed that nothing could turn u