did not succeed. There were more cattle following the first, and more
and more behind them. It appeared that all the cattle on the plain
joined in the blind and senseless charge. The thudding of hooves became
a mutter and then a rumble and then a growl. Plunging, clumsy figures
rushed past on either side. But horns and heads heaved up over the mound
of animals Calhoun had shot. He shot them too. More and more cattle came
pounding past the rampart of his victims, but always, it seemed, some
elected to climb the heap of their dead and dying fellows, and Calhoun
shot and shot.

But he split the herd. The foremost animals had been charging a sighted
human enemy. Others had followed because it is the instinct of cattle to
join their running fellows in whatever crazed urgency they feel. There
was a dense, pounding, horrible mass of running bulls and cows and
calves; bellowing, wailing, grunting, puffing, raising thick and
impenetrable clouds of dust which had everything but galloping beasts
going past on either side.

It lasted for minutes. Then the thunder of hooves diminished. It ended
abruptly, and Calhoun and the girl were left alone with the gruesome
pile of animals which had divided the charging herd into two parts. They
could see the rears of innumerable running animals, stupidly continuing
the charge--hardly different, now, from a stampede--whose original
objective none now remembered.

Calhoun thoughtfully touched the barrel of his blast-rifle and winced at
its scorching heat.

* * * * *

"I just realized," he said coldly, "that I don't know your name. What is
it?"

"M-maril," said the girl. She swallowed. "Th-thank you--."

"Maril," said Calhoun, "you are an idiot! It was half-witted at best to
go off by yourself! You could have been lost! You could have cost me
days of hunting for you, days badly needed for more important matters!"
He stopped and took breath. "You may have spoiled what little chance
I've got to do something about the plans Weald's already making!"

He said more bitterly still;

"And I had to leave Murgatroyd behind to get to you in time! He was
right in the path of that charge!"

He turned away from her and said dourly;

"All right! Come on back to the ship. We'll go to Dara. We'd have to,
anyhow. But Murgatroyd--"

Then he heard a very small sneeze. Out of a rolling wall of
still-roiling dust, Murgatroyd appeared forlornly. He was dust-covered,
and dr