The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Page 8

their sides, contentedly
chewing their cuds. It was such a sight as he never before had seen.
"What are those steers on the outside there--those fellows without any
horns?" asked Stacy.
"Those are the muleys. Having no horns, they keep well out of the
bunch and wait until the others have gone to bed as you see," the
foreman informed him. "You will notice after a while that they will lie
down outside the circle. If any of the cows get ugly during the night the
muleys will spring up and get out of the way."
In half an hour the last one of the great herd had "bedded down," and
those of the cowboys who were not on guard, rode leisurely back
toward camp.

It had been decided that Tad Butler should go out on the first guard;
Walter Perkins on the second; Ned Rector third and Stacy Brown
fourth.
Tad was all eagerness to begin. One of the cowmen exchanged ponies
with him, riding Tad's horse back to camp.
"You see, our ponies understand what is wanted of them," explained
Stallings, who had remained out for a while to give Tad some
instruction in the work before him. "Give the ordinary cow pony his
head and he will almost tend a herd by himself."
Three men ordinarily constituted the guard. In this case Tad Butler
made a fourth. Taking their stations some four rods from the edge of
the herd, they began lazily circling it, part going in one direction and
part in another. In this position it would have been well-nigh
impossible for any animal to escape without being noticed by the
riders.
"Now, I guess you will be all right," smiled the foreman. "Make no
sudden moves to frighten the cattle."
"Do they ever run?" asked Tad.
"Run? Well, rather! And I tell you, it takes a long-legged Mexican steer
to set the pace. Those fellows can run faster than a horse--at least some
of them can. A stampede is a thing most dreaded by the cowmen."
"Our ponies stampeded in the Rockies. I know something about that,"
spoke up Tad.
"Well, compare the stampeding of your four or five ponies with two
thousand head of wild steers and you'll get something like the idea of
what it means. In that case, unless you know your business you had
better get out of the way as fast as hoss-flesh will carry you. Now,
Master Tad, I'll bid you good night and leave you to your first night on
the plains."

"How shall I know when to come in?"
"When the second guard comes out. You will hear them. If you should
not they will let you know as they pass you."
With that the foreman walked his pony away from the herd. After some
little time Tad heard him galloping toward camp.
At first Tad took the keenest enjoyment in his surroundings; then the
loneliness of the plains came over him. He began to feel a longing for
human companionship.
A dense mantle of darkness settled down over the scene.
Remembering the advice of the foreman, the lad gave his pony the rein.
The hardy little animal, with nose almost touching the ground, began
its monotonous crawling pace about the herd. It seemed more asleep
than awake.
In a short time a sheet of bright light appeared on the eastern horizon.
Tad looked at it inquiringly, then smiled.
"It's the moon," he decided.
The boy felt a great sense of relief in his lonely vigil. Just ahead of him
he saw a pony and rider leisurely approaching.
It proved to be Red Davis, one of the first guard.
Red waved his hand to the boy in passing, but no word was spoken on
either side.
After having circled the herd twice, Tad suddenly discovered a small
bunch of cattle that had just scrambled to their feet and had begun
grazing a little way outside the circle. The rest of the herd were
contentedly chewing their cuds in the moonlight, grunting and blowing
over contented stomachs.
The lad was not sure just what he ought to do. His first inclination was

to call to some of the other guards. Then, remembering the injunction
placed upon him by the foreman, he resisted the impulse.
"I am sure those cattle have no business off there," he decided after
watching them for a few moments in silent uncertainty. "I believe I will
try to get them back."
Tightening the grip on his reins and clucking to the pony, Tad headed
for the steers, that were slowly moving off, taking a step with every
mouthful or so.
He steered his pony well outside and headed in toward them.
The pony, with keen intelligence, forced its way up to the leading steer
and sought to