i o8 The King of the Thundering Herd 



Bennie at once told the good news of their 

 finding the cow, but said nothing of his 

 other find. This would be his and Shep's 

 surprise for them. At last the wagon lum- 

 bered down to the bank of the river where 

 Shep was keeping guard over his two 

 charges. 



Just as they came up, the cow, which had 

 been lying down, arose, and the comical 

 little yellow calf, all head and with almost 

 no tail, jumped to his feet and butted play- 

 fully at Shep. 



The moment that Tommy saw him he 

 cried, " Oh, you dear little Bighead." The 

 name fitted him so well that it was the 

 only one he had until he was two years old. 



The following day the harness that had 

 been used upon the dead mule was read- 

 justed to the shape of old Brindle, and 

 she was hitched beside Ulysses. Soon the 

 schooner resumed its weary way over the 

 prairies, but at a rather slower pace than 



