The steer continued to plunge around for fully two minutes and all took good care to keep out of his reach. Then he took a final plunge and fell over on his side, breathing heavily and rolling his eyes the while.
"I reckon I had better give him a final shot," was Dick's comment, and, dismounting, he came forward and fired directly into the beast's eye. It was a finishing move, and, with a convulsive shudder, the steer lay still, and the unexpected encounter came to an end.
"Well, I am glad that is over," said Sam as he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead. "I thought he was going to horn me, sure!"
"He would have done so, had it not been for Dick," returned Tom.
"I know it. Dick, I shan't forget this."
"What's to be done about the steer?" asked Songbird. "It seems a pity to leave him here."
"Vot is der madder mit cutting him ub for meats?" put in Hans. "Ve can haf some nice steak ven ve go into camp next dime, hey?"
"That's a scheme," said Fred.
At that moment, Wags, who had kept in the background so long as the steer was raging around, set up a sharp barking.
"What's wrong now?" asked Tom, turning to the dog.