A Strange Ride 157 



them, it went. They slowed down to a 

 trot, then to a walk. 



The clouds now rolled away and the 

 moon came out. By its rather dim light, 

 Bennie could see the great herd slowly 

 disintegrating, the large herd breaking up 

 into small ones, and these in turn gradually 

 spreading out into the old company, like 

 feedingcattle in the home pasture in Indiana. 



With a great sigh of relief, and a silent 

 prayer to heaven, returning thanks for his 

 escape, just as his mother had taught him 

 to do for little things when he was a small 

 child, Bennie slid to the ground and felt 

 himself over. He seemed to be entirely 

 whole. Buck, too, was all right, only he 

 was covered with mud from head to tail. 

 But the principal thing was that they were 

 safe. Then and there the boy vowed that 

 with the coming daylight he would start 

 for home and not risk his neck any more 

 in this wildcat manner. 



