“No, sir, I’m going to find out just what it is,” he exclaimed aloud. He patted his mustang’s neck. “Luckily for both of us, old chap, your leg’s nearly well.”
At last, skirting around a clump of trees to see a broad open expanse stretching before him, he uttered an exclamation.
“I thought so!” he cried.
The dark object, though still some distance away, could now be distinctly seen; and one swift glance proved sufficient to reveal the fact that it was a prostrate steer.
CHAPTER XVIII
ON THE TRACK OF “RUSTLERS”
Of course, in that section of the country it was the most natural thing in the world to come across roaming cattle; though the thought instantly suggested itself to Tom that to see one so far separated from a herd had an element of mystery in it.
“It’s mighty queer,” he murmured.
Curious to know what could have happened to the animal, he galloped across the last stretch of ground at a rattling pace.
Reining up by the side of the fallen steer he sprang from the saddle to make a discovery which considerably surprised him. Instead of the motionless, inanimate form he had expected to find, the animal seemed to have plenty of life left in him.
The huge, bulky form began to move. He was making desperate efforts to struggle to his feet, but each time fell back with a ponderous thud to the earth.