Back in the darkness the cowboys were riding through the herd hurrying up the cattle with their quirts.
From a trot they broke into a gallop, and this soon grew into a perfect rout, for cattle are easily frightened at night.
As soon as Ted saw that the cattle were going to run, sure enough, he dashed across the intervening space to where the dark forms were standing in the path of the oncoming cattle.
He saw at once that it was Lieutenant Barrows and a squad of cavalrymen, and that they were armed with carbines. He resented this, as the lieutenant had no business to arm his men in this way for such an errand.
As Ted rode up, he shouted:
"Get out of the way, if you don't want to be trampled to death."
"What do you mean, you scoundrel?" shouted Barrows. "Halt, when I give the command, or take the consequences."
"Out of the way, you fool!" shouted Ted, as he swept past. "Don't you see that the cattle are stampeding?"
If the lieutenant did not know it, being so recently out of West Point, the men did, for with a yell they turned and rode like mad for the side lines.
Then, for the first time, the young officer, hearing the sullen bellow of the cattle and the thunder of the hoofs, turned and followed Ted.