siveness about the air that
had not been present before.

A deep orange glow showed on the southern horizon for an instant, then
settled back into the prairie, leaving the gloom about the young cowboy
even more dense than it had been before.

"Feels spooky," was Tad's comment.

Not being able to sing to his own satisfaction, Tad shoved his hands
deep into his trousers pockets and began whistling "Old Black Joe." It
was the most appropriate tune he could think of.

"Kind of fits the night," he explained to the pony, which was picking
its way slowly about the great herd. Then he resumed his whistling.

The guards passed each other without a word, some being too sleepy;
others too fully occupied with their own thoughts.

The night, by this time, had grown intensely still, even the insects and
night birds having hushed their weird songs.

A flash more brilliant than the first attracted the lad's attention.

"Lightning," he muttered, glancing off to the south. "I guess Mr.
Stallings was right about the storm." Yet, directly overhead the stars
still sparkled. In the distance Tad saw the comforting flicker of the
camp-fire, about which the cowmen were sleeping undisturbed by the
oppressiveness of the night.

"I guess the foreman knew what he was talking about when he said we were
going to have a storm," repeated Tad. "I wonder how the cattle will
behave if things get lively."

As if in answer to his question there came a stir among the animals on
the side nearest him.

Tad began whistling at once and the cows quieted down.

"They must like my whistling. It's the first time anything ever did,"
thought the lad.

Far over on the other side of the herd Big-foot crooned to his charges
the song of the "Two little niggers upstairs in bed."

"Sanders' stock must be walking in their sleep, too. I wonder----"

A brilliant flash lighted the entire heaven, causing Tad Butler to cut
short the remark he was about to make.

A deep rumble of thunder, that seemed to roll across the plain like some
great wave, followed a few seconds later.

The lad shivered slightly.

He was not afraid. Yet he realized that he was lonely, and wished that
some of the other guards might come along to keep him company.

Glancing up, Tad made the discovery that the small spot of clear sky had
disappeared. By now he was unable to see anything. He made no effort to
direct the pony, leaving it to the animal's instinct to keep a proper
distance