for their business is as
trying upon them as upon the men.

The meal was quickly finished, and Captain Shirril, with two of his
hands, set out for the camp to the rear, where he hoped to find the
missing cattle. Since there was a possibility that they had strayed in
other directions, three more men were despatched to make search.

It was rather curious that the captain selected as his assistants his
nephew Avon and the young Comanche Shackaye. When they were riding off,
Gleeson, the Texan, looked at the youth and winked, but said nothing.

Half-way to the camp, the three galloped over a ridge or swell in the
prairie, when to their surprise they came upon the missing animals
browsing just beyond.

"That's lucky!" said the captain; "the job is going to be easier than I
supposed. Avon, you and Shackaye ride to the left, while I will turn to
the right. Look out for that ugly steer; we have had trouble with him
before, and I believe he is in a bad mood now."

The Indian grinned on hearing these words and said:

"Me no 'fraid; me rope him if he fight."

And to show his contempt for the huge brute, he drove his mustang
straight for him as he was grazing on the further side of the group. The
steer raised his head, with the grass hanging from his jaws, and looked
quietly at the approaching Indian. He seemed to be in doubt as to his
purpose, until Shackaye, when almost upon him, swung his arm above his
head and uttered a tantalizing shout, as if he wished to enrage the
beast.

If such was his purpose he succeeded, for with a muttered bellow, the
steer dropped his head and charged fiercely at the pony, which, to save
himself, was obliged to wheel with such suddenness that the young
Comanche, despite his superb horsemanship, was thrown violently to the
ground directly in front of the animal.

Occasionally a cowboy is caught in the perilous situation of the young
Comanche. His horse may stumble, his lasso (always called a "rope"
except in California) become entangled, or he may be thrown to the
ground in the path of the charging steer or bull, which is sure to be
upon him before he can regain his feet and steed.

In such emergencies there is but the single thing to do: that is, to
shoot the animal, and to hesitate to do so means certain death to the
endangered cattleman.

Two causes prevented Shackaye from appealing to this last and only
recourse. His fall was so violent that he was slightly dazed, though he
did not lo