"Such people ought not to be allowed to wander away," drawled Jack Mason; "they ought to have people to look after them. But then I suppose back East there are so many houses and so many people that it's hard to get out of sight of 'em."
"No," laughed Jack; "there are a good many people there, but it isn't quite so bad as you say."
Hugh knocked the ashes from his pipe, rose to his feet, and stretched.
"Well, good night, boys; I'm going to hunt my blankets," he said.
The others soon followed him and the fire was deserted.
[CHAPTER XVIII]
A STAMPEDE
Jack was destined to be disappointed in his hope that he would not see a real stampede.
Toward evening of the very next day the sky clouded over in the late afternoon and there was a little rain. Night fell damp and drizzly, but there was nothing to lead any one to believe that there would be trouble. Jack went on night herd with the last relief, and with him rode Charley Powell, Donald and Mason. The herd was quiet, and the boys whom they relieved started back to camp, while the four who had come out began to ride about the cattle at a walk. For an hour or more the quiet continued, and there was no warning of any excitement.