ddled up the horse indicated, and found him the best he had ever
mounted. That experience led to his acquaintance with Blowy. He was a
ceaseless talker, hence his name, but beloved by all the outfit. Pan
learned something from every cowboy he met and it was not all for the
best.

That roundup was Pan's real introduction to the raw range. When the
time came for the outfit to break up, with each unit taking its own
cattle, the boss said to Pan, "Come ride fer me."

Pan, flushed and pleased, mumbled his thanks, but he had to work for
his father. Then he and the boy with him, Joe Crawley, bade their
comrades good-by, especially loath to part with Old Dutch, and started
home with their cows and calves. They crossed the old Indian
battlefield where Colonel Shivington gave the famous order to his
soldiers: "Kill 'em all. Nits make lice!"

Pan and Joe set out from there for Limestone Creek with their small
herd and extra horses. Pan wanted to bring Old Calico, but he had
drifted off to the range.

"Heel flies are workin', kid," said Joe, who was older and more
experienced. "We're shore goin' to be on the mud fer the next month."

There was something in the air, storm perhaps, or such conditions that
have strange effect upon beasts. Pan and Joe fought their cattle and
horses all that day, and most of the night. They could not make them
travel. Halting where they were they kept guard till dawn, then tried
to drive their outfit on. But not for several hours could they move
them. At length, however, the stock began to get dry, and string out
and travel.

Late in the afternoon the boys reached Limestone. They found three old
cows stuck in the mud, up to their eyes, with only their horns and
faces showing. It took long hard work to get them out. They made camp
there, turning the cows and calves loose, as this was their range.

The following morning Pan and Joe rode up to the next boghole. They
found seventeen mired cattle.

"Nice an' deep," said Joe. "Damn these heah cows, allus pickin' out
quicksand!"

It took until noon to pull them out. Another boghole showed
twenty-four more in deep.

"How many more bogholes on Limestone?" asked Pan.

"Only four an' the wust ones," replied Joe, groaning. "If they're
boggin' as good up there in them big holes, your dad will sure have to
ship more cattle in soon."

There were six thousand cattle watering along that stream. When the
water was low, as it was then