a mile down the river the cut-bank
shifted to the south side. If the cattle could swim that distance there
was an easy landing below. The beeves belonged to Forrest's herd, and
I declined the proffered leadership, but plans were outlined and we
started the work of rescue. Only a few men were left to look after the
main herds, the remainder of us swimming the river on our horses. One
man was detailed to drive the contingent which had safely forded, down
to the point where the bluff bank shifted and the incline commenced on
the north shore. The cattle were clinging, in small bunches, under the
cut-bank like swallows to a roof for fully a quarter-mile below the
mouth of the dry wash. Divesting ourselves of all clothing, a squad of
six of us, by way of experiment, dropped over the bank and pushed into
the river about twenty of the lowest cattle. On catching the full force
of the current, which ran like a mill-race, we swept downstream at a
rapid pace, sometimes clinging to a beef's tail, but generally swimming
between the cattle and the bluff. The force of the stream drove them
against the bank repeatedly, but we dashed water in their eyes and
pushed them off again and again, and finally landed every steer.

The Big Cheyenne was a mountain stream, having numerous tributaries
heading in the Black Hills. The water was none too warm, and when we
came out the air chilled us; but we scaled the bluff and raced back
after more cattle. Forrest was in the river on our return, but I ordered
his wrangler to drive all the horses under saddle down to the landing,
in order that the men could have mounts for returning. This expedited
matters, and the work progressed more rapidly. Four separate squads were
drifting the cattle, but in the third contingent we cut off too many
beeves and came near drowning two fine ones. The animals in question
were large and strong, but had stood for nearly an hour on a slippery
ledge, frequently being crowded into the water, and were on the verge of
collapse from nervous exhaustion. They were trembling like leaves when
we pushed them off. Runt Pickett was detailed to look especially after
those two, and the little rascal nursed and toyed and played with them
like a circus rider. They struggled constantly for the inshore, but Runt
rode their rumps alternately, the displacement lifting their heads out
of the water to good advantage. When we finally landed, the two big
fellows staggered out of the river and dro