eral forward movement, the young man riding on
the far side, the little man closing up the rear,
and this brought the whole herd, some bellowing
loudly, others in sullen silence, still others contentedly
munching, directly opposite. Then he
felt the prick of spurs, and, throwing himself eagerly
at the task, he galloped around behind the advancing
cattle, falling into the position now abandoned
by the little man, who cantered around and
forward upon the left flank. It was exciting, and
for a moment he thrilled. Then came the only
interruption.

A big steer, breaking suddenly out of the herd,
tore madly to the rear. Pat, nearest the escaping
beef, was spurred in pursuit. It was unexpected,
the spurring, and it was savage, and,
jolted out of soothing reflection, he flattened his
ears and balked. The man spurred him again
and again and again, finally raking his sides
mercilessly. Whereupon Pat balked in earnest,
bucking and pitching viciously. At this the man
swung his quirt, cutting Pat repeatedly over
head and ears. Yet Pat continued to plunge, holding
grimly to his lesson, which was to teach this
man the futility of this treatment. He did not
throw the man off, but neither did he go ahead.
Finally the man ceased his brutality, and evidently
coming to understand, headed Pat after the moving
herd without spur or quirt. Then Pat, though
still rankling under the cruelty, sprang eagerly
forward, desirous of showing his willingness to
serve when rightly used.

[[195]]

p194 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p195w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p196

v?