Homesteading 



two ; then I said : " They are heading for that 

 bluff ; you are a pretty good sprinter : see if 

 you can get round in front of them ; but don't 

 rush at them — try and get them to stand still. 

 I will get up on the other side." 



Off he went, and I followed, though not 

 very hopefully, knowing the cunning ways 

 of the apparently stupid genus Bos. But at 

 this juncture I noticed a man with a wagon 

 and team of horses coming along a trail which 

 crossed our line of operations, and diverted my 

 course to meet him. As I approached, I 

 said : " Morning ; would you do us the kindness 

 of unhitching a horse and helping us catch those 

 brutes ? " pointing in the direction of the bulls, 

 which were still pursuing the even tenor of 

 their way. I felt pretty small, but a kindly 

 smile slowly spread over the face of the man 

 as he silently got off his wagon and, rapidly 

 unhitching the near horse, sprang on its back, 

 and we both proceeded towards the bulls, which 

 Tom had by this time succeeded in bringing to 

 a stand. 



Coming up with them, the wagoner stood on' 

 one side while Tom stood on the other, and 

 I was able to walk up quietly to their heads and 

 get hold of the chain fastened to their nose-rings, 



*' Thank you very much," said It 



48 



