90 SUMMER 



i 



The runaways were brought up and the herd closed 

 in till it formed a circle nearly a mile around. This 

 ,. was as close as it could be drawn, for the cattle would 

 L not bed lie down. They wanted water more than < 

 ? they wanted rest. Their eyes were red, their tongues, 

 ;> raspy with thirst. The situation was a serious one. 



But camp was made. Two of the riders were sent 

 V ; back along the trail to bring up the "drags," while ', 

 '^ Wade with his other men circled the uneasy cattle, 

 closing them in, quieting them, and doing everything 

 possible to make them bed. 



But they were thirsty, and, instead of bedding, the 

 { herd began to " growl " a distant mutter of throats, \ 

 ?y low, rumbling, ominous, as when faint thunder rolls 7 

 : behind the hills. Every plainsman fears the growl, 

 ^ for it usually is a prelude to the "milling," as it ^ 

 /^ proved to be now, when the whole vast herd began i j 

 ; to stir, slowly, singly, and without direction, till at?'/ 

 .<y length it moved together, round and round, a great S 

 .. compact circle, the multitude of clicking hoofs, of ^ \ 

 f clashing horns, and chafing sides like the sound ' \ 

 >n of rushing rain across a field of corn. 

 -! Nothing could be worse for the cattle. The cooler ||J 

 twilight was falling, but, mingling with it, rose and ^ { 

 ^ > thickened and spread the choking dust from their feet v 

 - that soon covered them and shut out all but the dark c 

 wall of the herd from sight. 



Slowly, evenly swung the wall, round and round $|* 

 without a break. Only one who has watched a mill- 



