a slow trot and that in turn to a quick gallop and almost before Larry appreciated the sinister thing that was sweeping down upon him the entire herd had broken into a mad gallop.
Then Larry remembered something that Hank Brodie had told him the first day he had ridden with his uncle on the Crooked Creek ranch. His uncle had said a herd of cattle is like the sea, the sea can smooth out all its little ripples until it looks like the most peaceful thing in the world, but in a few minutes it can break into mighty billows scattering death and destruction in their wake. So it is with a herd of cattle, the first law of the cattle land is never dismount in sight of the herd and never be caught off your horse if you value your life.
Larry's first thought was of Patches, he was only a few rods away and he turned and ran with all his might towards the spot where he had left his faithful horse, but to his great surprise as he topped the crest and looked down the further slope Patches was not there. What did it mean? He surely had left him just over the swell. Then he looked back at the herd of cattle. They were coming on, heads down and tails up, at a terrific pace. The thunder of their hoofs could be heard like the rolling of many great drums. It was a sinister sight, so he bent his every energy and ran as he had not run in many a day. Surely Patches was
