the axle to it; without
detaching the teams, the wagons were eased down the incline and crossed
in safety, the water not being over three feet deep in the shallows. I
was elated over the ease and success of my task, when Zilligan called
attention to the fact that the first herd had not yet crossed. The
chosen ford was out of sight, but had the cattle been crossing, we could
have easily seen them on the mesa opposite. "Well," said Clay, "the
wagons are over, and what's more, all the mules in the three outfits
couldn't bring one of them back up that cliff."

We mounted our horses, paying no attention to Zilligan's note of
warning, and started up the river. But before we came in view of the
ford, a great shouting reached our ears, and giving our horses the
rowel, we rounded a bend, only to be confronted with the river full of
cattle which had missed the passageway out on the farther side. A glance
at the situation revealed a dangerous predicament, as the swift water
and the contour of the river held the animals on the farther side or
under the cut-bank. In numerous places there was footing on the narrow
ledges to which the beeves clung like shipwrecked sailors, constantly
crowding each other off into the current and being carried downstream
hundreds of yards before again catching a foothold. Above and below the
chosen ford, the river made a long gradual bend, the current and deepest
water naturally hugged the opposite shore, and it was impossible for the
cattle to turn back, though the swimming water was not over forty yards
wide. As we dashed up, the outfit succeeded in cutting the train of
cattle and turning them back, though fully five hundred were in the
river, while not over one fifth that number had crossed in safety.
Forrest was as cool as could be expected, and exercised an elegant
command of profanity in issuing his orders.

"I did allow for the swiftness of the current," said he, in reply to a
criticism of mine, "but those old beeves just drifted downstream like a
lot of big tubs. The horses swam it easy, and the first hundred cattle
struck the mouth of the wash square in the eye, but after that they
misunderstood it for a bath instead of a ford. Oh, well, it's live and
learn, die and forget it. But since you're so d---- strong on the sabe,
suppose you suggest a way of getting those beeves out of the river."

It was impossible to bring them back, and the only alternative was
attempted. About three quarters of