CHAPTER XV
FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER
The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escapehe had had. He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herdwhen the cattle rushed by him.
On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in thefaint light. His companion was nowhere to be seen. However, that was notsurprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tadwas unable to see to the other side of the herd.
As the day dawned the cattle began to slacken their speed, and, by thetime the leaders reached the river bank, the rush was at an end. Some ofthe stock plunged into the edge of the stream where they began drinking,while others set to grazing contentedly.
As the light became stronger, the lad made out the figure of Big-footSanders approaching him at an easy gallop.
"We did it, didn't we, Big-foot?" exulted Tad Butler.
"That we did, Pinto. And there comes the rest of the bunch now,"Big-foot added, pointing to the rear, where others of the cowboys wereto be seen riding up.
Stallings was the first to reach them.
"Good job," he grinned. "We are at the river several hours ahead ofschedule time. Doesn't look very promising, does it?"
"River's pretty high. Are you thinking of fording it this morning?"asked Big-foot, looking over the swollen stream.
"We might as well. The water will be higher later in the day. We may notbe able to get across in several days if we wait too long."
"What do you think started the cattle this time?" asked Tad.
"I don't think. I know what did it."
"Yes?"
"It was that clumsy friend of yours."
"The gopher?" asked Big-foot.
"Allee same, as Pong would say. That boy is the limit. Is he alwaysfalling into trouble that way?"
"Yes, or falling off a pony," laughed Tad.
"There he comes, now."
Stacy rode up to them, his face serious and thoughtful.
"Well, young man, what have you to say for yourself?" asked the foreman.
"I was going to ask you, sir, where we are going to get our breakfast?"
Stallings glanced at Tad and Big-foot, with a hopeless expression in hiseyes.
"Go ask the Chinaman," he answered rather brusquely.
"I can't. He isn't here."
"Well, that's the answer," laughed the foreman, riding to the river bankand surveying the stream critically.
Tad and Big-foot Sanders joined him almost immediately.
"Think we can make it, chief?"
"I think so, Sanders. One of us had better ride over and back to testthe current."
"I'll try it for you," said Tad.
"Go ahead. Sanders, you ride back and tell Lumpy to return to camp andbring on the outfit. They can't reach us until late in the afternoon, asit is. I presume that slant-eyed cook is sitting in his wagon waitingfor us to come back. Hurry them along, for we shall be hungry by thetime we have finished this job."
Tad promptly spurred his pony into the stream. After wading out a littleway he slipped off into the water, hanging by the pommel, swimming withone hand to relieve the pony as much as possible.
The boy made the crossing without mishap, Stallings observing theperformance to note how far down the stream the pony would drift. Tadlanded some five rods lower down. On the return, the drift was not quiteso noticeable.
"We'll make it," announced the foreman. "If you want to dry out, rideback and tell the bunch to crowd the cattle in as rapidly as possible.The faster we can force them in the less they will drift down stream."
"Very well, sir," replied the boy, galloping off to deliver his message.
With a great shouting and much yelling the cowboys began their task ofurging the cattle into the river. Not being over-thirsty, it was no easytask to induce the animals to enter the water, but when the leadersfinally plunged in the rest followed, fairly piling on top of oneanother in their efforts to follow the pilots of the herd. Above andbelow, the cowboys who were not otherwise engaged were swimming theriver endeavoring to keep the animals from straying one way or another.
Tad Butler and his companions were aiding in this work, shouting fromthe pure joy of their experience, and, in an hour's time, the last steerhad swum the stream and clambered up the sloping bank on the other side.
"There!" announced the foreman. "That's a bad job well done. I wish thetrail wagon were here. A cup of hot coffee wouldn't go bad after an hourin the water."
"After several of them, you mean," added Tad. "You know we have been outin the rain all night."
"Yes, and you did a bang-up piece of work, you and Big-foot. How did youhappen to lead the cattle straight ahead, instead of turning theleaders?"
"It was the kid's suggestion," answered Big-foot Sanders. "He's got aman's head on his shoulders that more'n makes up for what the gopherhasn't got."
"It does, indeed," agreed Stallings.
"How are we going to get that trail wagon over when it comes up!" askedone of the men.
"That's what's bothering me," answered the foreman. "Perhaps our youngfriend here can give us a suggestion. His head is pretty full of ideas,"added the foreman, more with an intent to compliment Tad than in theexpectation of getting valuable suggestions from him.
"What is your usual method?" asked the boy.
"Well, to tell the truth, I've never had quite such a proposition asthis on my hands."
"I guess you will have to float it over."
"It won't float. It'll sink."
"You can protect it from that."
"How?" asked the foreman, now keenly interested.
"First take all the stuff out of it. That will save your equipment ifanything happens to the wagon. Ferry the equipment over on the backs ofthe ponies. If it's too heavy, take over what you can."
"Well, what next?" asked Stallings.
"Get some timbers and construct a float under the wagon."
"Where you going to get timber around these parts?" demanded Big-foot.
"I see plenty of trees near the river. Cut down a few and make a raft ofthem."
"By George, the kid's hit it!" exclaimed Stallings, clapping his thighvigorously. "That's exactly what we'll do. But we'll have to wait tillthe wagon gets here. The axes are all in the wagon."
"Mebby I'm particularly thick to-day, but I'd like to inquire how youexpect to get the outfit over, after you have the raft under it?"demanded Shorty Savage. "Answer that, if you can?"
"I think that is up to the foreman," smiled Tad. "Were I doing it Ithink I should hitch ropes to the tongue and have the ponies on theother side draw the wagon across. Of course, you are liable to have anaccident. The ropes may break or the current may tip your wagon over.That's your lookout."
"Now will you be good?" grinned the foreman. "You know all about it, andit would be a good idea to let the thought simmer in your thick head fora while. It may come in handy, some day, when you want to get across ariver."
Shorty walked away, none too well pleased.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the wagon hove in sight, and theboys rode out to meet it.
It was decided to camp on the river bank until after they had eatentheir evening meal, after which there would still be time to ferry over.While the meal was being cooked Stallings sent some of the men out tocut down four small trees and haul them in.
They grumbled considerably at this, but obeyed orders. Tad went along,at the suggestion of the foreman, to pick out such trees as he thoughtwould best serve their purpose.
The trail wagon's teams were used to haul the logs in and by the timethe work was finished a steaming hot supper had been spread by thesmiling Chinaman.
Professor Zepplin had come along with the wagon. He said he was a littlestiff from the wetting he had received, but otherwise was all right.
"Now, young man, I'll let you boss the job," announced Stallings as Tadrose from the table. "I give you a free hand."
With a pleased
smile, Tad set about constructing his raft. Ned Rectorswam the river with the ropes, and fastened them to trees so they wouldnot be carried away by the current. The wagon was then run down into thewater by hand, the ropes made fast, and all was ready for the start.
"What are you going to do about the drift?" asked the foreman, who hadbeen interestedly watching the preparations.
"We are going to tie ropes to the two wheels on the upper side. One isto be held on this side of the river, the other from the opposite side.I think the kitchen will ford the river as straight as you could draw achalk line," announced Tad.
"I guess it will," answered the foreman, with a suggestive glance atProfessor Zepplin.
"All right when you get ready over there," called Tad to the waitingcowboys on the other side.
They had taken firm hold of the ropes with their right hands, their lefthands holding to the pommels of their saddles.
"Ready!" came the warning cry from the other side.
"Haul away!" shouted Tad.
The ropes secured to the tongue of the trail wagon straightened, and thewagon began to move out into the stream.
"Be careful. Don't pay out that rope too fast," directed Tad to the manon his side of the stream.
The trail wagon floated out easily on the swiftly moving current. It wasgreeted by a cheer from the Pony Rider Boys. Those of the cowboys whowere not otherwise engaged joined with a will.
"There's that fool Chinaman," growled Stallings, observing the grinningface of Pong peering from the tail of the wagon. "Look out, the dragonwill get you, sure, if you fall out!" he warned. "I don't care anythingabout you, but we can't afford to be without a cook."
"There goes the fool!" cried Big-foot. "Now we sure will starve todeath."
As the Wagon Lurched Pong Plunged Overboard.]
As the wagon lurched in the current, the Chinaman had plunged overboardand disappeared beneath the surface.