I've lost it," he exclaimed. "Well, it is not so much of a loss
after all. I paid only a dollar for it and I've had more than a dollar's
worth of fun to-night. I wonder what I look like. I must be a sight."

It now lacked only an hour of dawn, but, of course, the boy did not know
this. In the darkness preceding the dawn he had no idea of the size of
the bunch of cattle that he had led out over the plain. He knew it must
be large, however.

At last daybreak was at hand, the landscape and the herd being faintly
outlined in the thin morning light. Tad was surprised to find that he
had milled the cattle into a compact bunch. Now the boy began galloping
around the herd, speaking words of encouragement to the animals as he
went, whistling and trying to sing, until finally he was rewarded by
seeing some of them begin to graze.

"I've done it," shouted Tad gleefully. "I've bagged the whole bunch. I
wonder what Mr. Stallings will say to that. I don't believe Big-foot
Sanders could beat that. The next question is, where am I? I don't know.
I guess I'm lost for sure. But I've got lots of company."

To add to his perplexity, a light fog was drifting over the plain from
the southeast, shutting out what little view there was in the early
morning light.

The cattle were now grazing as contentedly as if they never had known
such an experience as a stampede. It was useless, however, to attempt to
drive them, for he might be leading them away from camp instead of
toward it.

Tad was wet and hungry, and now that he was able to get a look at
himself, he discovered that his belt was about the only whole thing left
of his equipment. Scarcely a vestige of his trousers remained; his shirt
hung in ribbons, his hat was lost and his leggins had been stripped off
clean.

Tad laughed heartily as he surveyed himself.

"Well, I am a sight! I guess I shall need a whole new harness before I
drive cattle much more."

All he could do now was to wait for the sun to rise. Then, he might be
able to determine something about his position.

But the sun was a long time in making its appearance that day.

CHAPTER XI

THE VIGIL ON THE PLAINS

"I wish I had a drink of water," said Tad after some hours had passed.
Instead of drifting away, the fog had become more dense. He could see
only part of the herd now. However, as they showed no disposition to
run, Tad felt no concern in that direction. He was obliged to ride
around the herd more f