The Black Swans 



off yonder in the north or east or south 

 or west a trampling host of Herefords 

 and Shorthorns come a-trooping down 

 the hills, a solid mass of beef upon the 

 hoof. They are so far away at first 

 they seem mere specks upon the hori- 

 zon, but as they come nearer and 

 nearer you can distinguish forms and 

 colors. Everywhere the unmistakable 

 badge of the hardy, red-robed, white- 

 faced Hereford ! The cows with young- 

 est calves come last. Some of the 

 babies, weakened by their journey 

 from the far-off pastures, sank at once 

 when the herd was halted. Pandemo- 

 nium reigned. Many a mother had 

 been separated from her calf, but the 

 bawling of the cows was music to the 

 ears of the man who counted a good 

 crop ready for the branding. You 

 know the rest. 



We sat there in our saddles and 

 watched the horned hundreds as they 

 passed; and in the long parade I saw 

 one poor old cripple with the roan coat 



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