into a loud laugh, attracting all eyes to
him.

"Funniest thing I ever heard of," he muttered, abashed by the inquiring
looks directed at him.

"Now watch the heathen while I ask him what he is going to have for
breakfast," said the foreman. "Pong, what are you going to give us out
of the chuck wagon in the morning?"

"Allee same likee this," chattered the Chinaman, quickly turning to his
questioner, at the same time rapidly running through a series of
pantomime gestures.

The Pony Riders looked at each other blankly.

"He says we are going to have fried bacon with hot biscuit and coffee,"
Stallings informed them with a hearty laugh. "Pong is not much of a
talker. That's about as much as you ever will hear him say. He's weak on
talk and strong on motions."

The foreman glanced up at the sky.

"It's time to put the cows to bed. You young gentlemen may ride along on
your own ponies, but keep well back from the cattle. Those of you who go
out to-night will have to ride our ponies. All ready, now."

The entire outfit mounted and set off over the plain to where the cattle
were moving slowly about, but not grazing much. They had had their fill
of grass and water and were now ready for the night.

"Where's their beds?" asked Chunky, gazing about him curiously.

"Right ahead of you," answered Stallings.

The foreman's quick eye already had picked out a nice elevation on which
the old dry grass of the previous summer's growth lay matted like a
carpet for the cattle to bed down on.

"How many of them are there in the herd?" asked Tad.

"About two thousand. That was the first count. Since then we have picked
up a few stray cows. We will be cutting those out in a day or so, when
you will see some real cow work. Perhaps you will be able to help by
that time."

Now the cowmen galloped out on the plain, separating widely until they
had practically surrounded the herd. They began circling slowly about
the herd, at the same time gradually closing in on them.

The animals appeared to understand fully what was expected of them, for
they had been on the road several nights already. Besides, having had
their fill they were anxious to turn in for the night.

As they found spots to their liking, the animals began to throw
themselves down.

Tad uttered an exclamation of delight as he watched the steers going to
their knees in hundreds, then dropping on their sides, contentedly
chewing their cuds. It was such a sight as he