y. Off to the west,
he plainly made out a large body of cattle. Apparently they were now
headed to the northwest.

It was almost a hopeless task for one to expect to be able to overhaul
them on foot, and even were he to do so he could accomplish nothing
after reaching them.

But Tad kept on just the same, with the rain beating him until he was
gasping for breath, the lightning playing about him in lingering sheets
of yellow flame.

He had run on in this way for fully half an hour when a flash disclosed
an object to the right of him. It was moving, but Tad was sure it was
not a steer.

The boy changed his course somewhat and trotted along with more caution,
shading his eyes with a hand that he might make out what it was when the
next flash came.

"It's a pony!" he shouted. "It's my pony!"

The animal was standing with lowered head, gazing straight at the boy.

Tad whistled and called with a long drawn "Whoa-oo-ope!"

The pony made no move to approach, nor did it attempt to run away. But
Tad had had experience enough with the cow ponies by this time to know
that the animal was not likely to stand still and permit him to come up
with it. At any moment it was likely to kick its heels in the air and
dash away.

"I've got to make a run for him," decided the lad, stepping cautiously
forward, making a slight detour that he might come up from the animal's
left instead of approaching him directly from the front.

After having done this, Tad waited, crouching low. He chuckled to
himself as he observed that the pony was looking straight ahead, not
having discovered his master's new position.

The boy was not more than two rods from him.

Measuring the distance with his eyes, he waited until the lightning
flash died out, then ran on his toes straight for where he believed the
horse was standing. It was Tad's purpose to grab the animal about the
neck.

Instead he ran straight against the pony's side with a resounding bump.

The pony uttered a grunt of fear, springing straight up into the air.

"Whoa, Barney!" coaxed the lad. But Barney had no idea of obeying the
command at that moment. It is doubtful if, in the fright of the sudden
collision, he even understood what was wanted of him.

Tad's hands had missed the neck. Instead they had grasped the pommel and
cantle of the saddle, so that when the pony leaped, Tad's feet were
jerked clear of the ground.

As the animal came down on all fours, Tad threw himself into