As he rode he drew his revolver, and broke it to see that its chambers were filled.
Ted's face was pale and stern, and Stella saw at a glance that he was terribly angry, and had the look in it that she had observed there several times when he had seen animals being used with cruelty.
As he dashed into the milling herd he gave a cry of rage.
At the same moment a man sprang to an upright position in the midst of the cattle, and gave a cry of surprise.
Over his shoulders hung the fresh hide of a cow, with the skin of the head and the horns protruding above his head.
He gave one swift glance at Ted, then threw the hide to the ground and set out at a run through the plunging beasts.
Ted was hampered by the cattle getting in his way, and was not making much progress, but he was beating the horned beasts aside with his quirt.
It was possible even yet that the man who was running from him would escape, and this was what Ted was trying with all his might to prevent.
Ted knew why the man was among the cattle protected from them by his disguise of the cow's hide.
He had been hamstringing them by the wholesale.