94 The King of the Thundering Herd 



the man and boy kept a sharp lookout for a 

 creek, as they were nearly famished, the 

 contents of one water-jug having lasted the 

 whole family all through that perilous 

 night. 



On, on they went across the endless 

 plains, the scorching sun beating down 

 mercilessly. At about noon they were 

 obliged to rest in a small canyon, which 

 was the only shade that they had met with 

 since leaving camp. Even here there was 

 little verdure, and almost no trees, and 

 worst of all no water. 



At about three o'clock in the afternoon 

 they again took up their tedious quest. 

 Shep was now often rather uncertain of the 

 trail, and was occasionally obliged to take 

 fifteen minutes to unravel it from that of 

 the rest of the herd. 



Finally at about four o'clock the broad 

 trail struck off to the west, and all felt in- 

 stinctively that this change would better 



