good grass country, they were not
grain-fed like the horses on their track, and above all, the slight
but continuous nervous tension was surely telling. It spoiled their
appetites, but made them very thirsty. They were allowed, and as far
as possible encouraged, to drink deeply at every chance. The effect of
large quantities of water on a running animal is well known; it tends to
stiffen the limbs and spoil the wind. Jo carefully guarded his own horse
against such excess, and both he and his horse were fresh when they
camped that night on the trail of the jaded mustangs.

At dawn he found them easily close at hand, and though they ran at first
they did not go far before they dropped into a walk. The battle seemed
nearly won now, for the chief difficulty in the 'walk-down' is to keep
track of the herd the first two or three days when they are fresh.

All that morning Jo kept in sight, generally in close sight, of the
band. About ten o'clock, Charley relieved him near Jos. Peak and that
day the mustangs walked only a quarter of a mile ahead with much less
spirit than the day before and circled now more north again. At night
Charley was supplied with a fresh horse and followed as before.

Next day the mustangs walked with heads held low, and in spite of the
efforts of the Black Pacer at times they were less than a hundred yards
ahead of their pursuer.

The fourth and fifth days passed the same way, and now the herd was
nearly back to Antelope Springs. So far all had come out as expected.
The chase had been in a great circle with the wagon following a lesser
circle. The wild herd was back to its starting-point, worn out; and the
hunters were back, fresh and on fresh horses. The herd was kept from
drinking till late in the afternoon and then driven to the Springs to
swell themselves with a perfect water gorge. Now was the chance for the
skilful ropers on the grain-fed horses to close in, for the sudden heavy
drink was ruination, almost paralysis, of wind and limb, and it would be
easy to rope and hobble them one by one.

There was only one weak spot in the programme, the Black Stallion, the
cause of the hunt, seemed made of iron, that ceaseless swinging pace
seemed as swift and vigorous now as on the morning when the chase began.
Up and down he went rounding up the herd and urging them on by voice and
example to escape. But they were played out. The old white mare that
had been such help in sighting them at night, had dr