But the leaders were almost upon him, and, realizing that death was following him fast, he gave an agonizing cry.
Ted heard the cry, and understood its import.
While he disliked and despised the bullying officer, he had no desire to see harm come to him.
The lieutenant's horse, while a good-enough cavalry animal in times of peace, was not the match of the cow ponies, and was already badly winded, as well as frightened, and was losing ground steadily.
"Bear off to the right!" shouted Ted repeatedly. But the officer was evidently too frightened or rattled to understand, and kept blundering along.
Ted saw that disaster was sure to follow in a short while if Barrows didn't change his tactics.
The herd was going at regulation stampede speed now, but this did not cause Ted to think of his own danger when he deliberately turned Sultan and came galloping back upon the advancing sea of sharp horns.
In a moment he was beside Barrows, wheeled suddenly, and began to ride against the cavalry horse, forcing it to one side, and urging it on with lashes of his quirt.
At last he got the heavy brute going the way he wanted and soon it was out of danger, as the frantic herd swept by with a roar like that of a lightning express rushing over a culvert.
Barrows was sitting on his trembling horse, pale, and with beads of perspiration standing out on his forehead.