The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Page 7

off a pony, young man," laughed the foreman.
"I hope you won't dismount in that fashion around the cattle at night. If
you do, you sure will stampede the herd."
Chunky grinned sheepishly.
"It doesn't take much to start a bunch of cows on the run after dark,"
continued the foreman, "I've known of such a thing as a herd being
stampeded because they were frightened at the rising moon. Haven't

you, Big-foot?"
Sanders nodded.
"The gopher'll do it, too; he's a clumsy lout," he answered, referring to
Stacy in a withering tone.
"And now, boys, I will tell you how our watches are divided, after
which you can go out with the cowboys and see them bed down the
cows."
"Bed them down?" spoke up Chunky, his curiosity aroused. "That's
funny. I didn't know you had to put cattle to bed."
"You'll see that we do. Boys, the night of the cowman on the march is
divided into four tricks. The first guard goes on at half past eight,
coming off at half past ten. The second guard is on duty from that time
till one o'clock in the morning; the third, from that hour till half past
three, while the fourth remains out until relieved in the morning. He
usually wakes up the cook, too. And, by the way, you boys haven't
made the acquaintance of Pong, have you? I'll call him. Unless you get
on the right side of Pong, you will suffer."
"Pong? That's funny. Sounds like ping-pong. I used to play that,"
interrupted Stacy.
"Pong is as funny as his name, even if he is a Chinaman," laughed
Stallings. "Pong, come here."
The Chinaman, having heard his name spoken, was peering inquiringly
from the tail of the chuck wagon.
Hopping down, he trotted over to the group, his weazened, yellow face
wreathed in smiles.
"Shake hands with these young gentlemen, Pong. They will be with us
for the next two weeks," said the foreman.
"Allee same likee this," chuckled Pong, clasping his palms together and

gleefully shaking hands with himself.
"That's the Chinaman's idea of shaking hands," laughed Stallings. "He
always shakes hands with himself instead of the other fellow."
Stacy Brown suddenly broke into a loud laugh, attracting all eyes to
him.
"Funniest thing I ever heard of," he muttered, abashed by the inquiring
looks directed at him.
"Now watch the heathen while I ask him what he is going to have for
breakfast," said the foreman. "Pong, what are you going to give us out
of the chuck wagon in the morning?"
"Allee same likee this," chattered the Chinaman, quickly turning to his
questioner, at the same time rapidly running through a series of
pantomime gestures.
The Pony Riders looked at each other blankly.
"He says we are going to have fried bacon with hot biscuit and coffee,"
Stallings informed them with a hearty laugh. "Pong is not much of a
talker. That's about as much as you ever will hear him say. He's weak
on talk and strong on motions."
The foreman glanced up at the sky.
"It's time to put the cows to bed. You young gentlemen may ride along
on your own ponies, but keep well back from the cattle. Those of you
who go out to-night will have to ride our ponies. All ready, now."
The entire outfit mounted and set off over the plain to where the cattle
were moving slowly about, but not grazing much. They had had their
fill of grass and water and were now ready for the night.
"Where's their beds?" asked Chunky, gazing about him curiously.
"Right ahead of you," answered Stallings.

The foreman's quick eye already had picked out a nice elevation on
which the old dry grass of the previous summer's growth lay matted
like a carpet for the cattle to bed down on.
"How many of them are there in the herd?" asked Tad.
"About two thousand. That was the first count. Since then we have
picked up a few stray cows. We will be cutting those out in a day or so,
when you will see some real cow work. Perhaps you will be able to
help by that time."
Now the cowmen galloped out on the plain, separating widely until
they had practically surrounded the herd. They began circling slowly
about the herd, at the same time gradually closing in on them.
The animals appeared to understand fully what was expected of them,
for they had been on the road several nights already. Besides, having
had their fill they were anxious to turn in for the night.
As they found spots to their liking, the animals began to throw
themselves down.
Tad uttered an exclamation of delight as he watched the steers going to
their knees in hundreds, then dropping on