"Right there in front of you."
"Where?"
"Chunky, there is no bridge," Tad informed him. "We have to wade, just as the cattle will."
"And swim, too, part of the way," added Stallings.
"But we'll get wet," wailed Chunky.
"No doubt about that," roared the foreman.
"Swim the river with our horses?" exclaimed Ned. "Hurrah! That will be great!"
"I shall be glad to get some of this dust washed off me," laughed Tad. "Besides, the bump on my head will feel better for it, I think."
"Spread out, boys. The cattle are coming up on the run. They will push you into the river before you are ready if you happen to be in their way," warned Stallings.
The riders clucked to their ponies and all galloped up stream some distance that they might be well out of the way of the oncoming herd.