82 The King of the Thundering Herd 



goes old Brindle too," sobbed Tommy. " I 

 guess we will all starve now." 



Poor Shep, who had been securely tied at 

 the forward end of the wagon, cowered and 

 whimpered as though he too thought the 

 judgment day had come, and it was his and 

 Tommy's lot to comfort each other, the 

 dog licking the boy's hands, and he in turn 

 patting the dog's head. 



The loss of old Brindle and Abe proved 

 to be the turning-point in the misfortunes 

 of the Andersons, for the herd now parted 

 at the barricade made by the dead buffalo, 

 the mule, and the wagon, so that although 

 every few minutes it seemed as though they 

 would be engulfed, yet the danger veered 

 to one side and passed by. 



Half an hour and then an hour went by 

 and still there was no diminution of the herd. 

 The second hour and the third passed and 

 still they came, crowding and pushing, 

 blowing and snorting, steaming and reeking. 



