“Cattle?”
“Yes, steers. Thousands of ’em. And they seem to be headed this way.”
“Let me take a look,” said Jerry. “You’re right,” he added, after an inspection. “They seem to be coming on rather fast, too. I guess we’d better get out of here. Cattle on the prairies don’t like to see persons who are not on horseback. They are not used to a man unless he’s mounted, and I’ve read that a man on foot may cause a stampede.”
“I hope they don’t run in this direction,” remarked Bob. “It’s going to be unpleasant for us if they do.”
“We’d better get out of here,” advised Ned. “Come on, fellows.”
“That’s easier said than done,” retorted Jerry.
“The cattle are all around us. I don’t see how we’re going to get through them. If we go too close we may stampede ’em at once, whereas, if we stay here, they may pass by us, or change their direction.”
“What’s the matter with the cowboys?” asked Rob. “Why don’t they head the animals the other way when they see we’re right in the path?”
“Probably the cattlemen are on the outer edges of the herd,” said Jerry. “The cowboys can’t see us, and they’re simply driving the steers on.”
“But what makes them go in a circle?” asked Bob.