took some time to brand the young beasts, and to
count and sort the whole herd. As soon as this was done, Mr Ramsay and
his friends and servants started off, on a fine moonlight night, in the
hopes of driving in the remainder of the herd; for this purpose they
took with them a few tame cattle that the wild ones might join company,
and the whole be induced to go back together. Before long the lowing of
the decoy-herd was answered from the distant forest, and as they
proceeded on, numbers joined them, their large bodies seen amid the
trees, and their huge horns glancing in the moonbeams. Orders had been
given that not a whip should be cracked, not a word spoken. They had
got on some way very well, and many wild animals had joined their ranks,
when Joseph observed Tony Peach riding near him. Soon afterwards there
was heard the crack of a whip, and a number of animals started off. Mr
Ramsay, Mr Harlow, and others did their best to stop them, riding here
and there and turning them quickly. Joseph kept his eye on Peach, and
observed that whenever he could, without being, as he thought, noticed,
he let the beasts gallop off. A good many had escaped in this way, when
Joseph determined to try and stop the next that should make the attempt.
A large bull was turning off, when Joseph rode to head the animal.
Suddenly the beast turned on him. At that moment his horse, putting his
fore feet into a hole, fell and rolled over with him. The bull came on.
Peach, instead of coming to help him, with a loud laugh rode off,
pretending to go after other cattle. Joseph, as he well might, shouted
at the top of his voice. Just as the bull was close to him Mr Ramsay,
in chase of another beast, passed by. Seeing what had happened, he
placed himself before the bull and twined the lash of his whip round its
horns. The horse stood stock still, with its fore legs out ready to
spring aside, should it be necessary to avoid the bull or to stop the
latter in its course. The bull, finding a sudden pull at its head, of
course turned towards Mr Ramsay, who, untwisting his lash, galloped
round and gave it such a cut on the flank as made it turn back once more
towards the herd. This gave Joseph time to remount his horse, and he
was soon lashing away at the animals as before. He was much disposed to
tell Mr Ramsay what he had observed; but then he thought it was not
easy to prove. "It may be thought that I want to curry favour. Still,
if I find