RIDING THE RIM ROCK 95 



There was a snort from the steers, a quick cljtfp of , 

 horns and hoofs from within the herd, a tremor of 5 

 the plain, a roar, a surging mass and Wade was 

 'riding the flank of a wild stampede. Before him, \ 

 behind him, beside him, pressing hard upon his* 

 horse, galloped the frenzied steers, and beyond them * , 

 a multitude, borne on, and bearing him on, by the I 

 heave of the galloping herd. 



Wade was riding for his life. He knew it. His 

 horse knew it. He was riding to turn the herd, too,! 

 back from the rim, as the horse also knew.] 

 The cattle were after water water-mad and 

 would go over the precipice to get it, carrying horse j 

 and rider with them. 



Wade was the only rider between the herd and the 

 rim. It was black as death. He could see nothing in I 

 the sage, could scarcely discern the pounding, pant-; 

 ing shadows at his side ; but he knew by the swish j 

 of the brush and the plunging of the horse that the* 

 ground was growing stonier, that they were nearing 

 the rocks. 



To outrun the cattle seemed his only chance. If 

 he could come up with the leaders he might yet head! 

 them off upon the plain and save the herd. There* 

 were cattle still ahead of him, how many, what; 

 part of the herd, he could not tell. But the horsei 

 knew. The reins hung on his straight neck, while 

 Wade, yelling and firing into the air, gave him the 

 race to win, to lose. 



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