, a pace they keep up for a mile or more. There is a big
double in front of them and Tyton calls a halt, but the girls either do
not or will not hear and, tightening their reins and over--up--over!
they both fly the two high fences and calmly turn their horses' heads
and open the gates for the others. They meet old Tyton's severe look
with a smiling--'Don't be cross, we won't do it again. It was too
tempting.' The old chap is too proud of them to say more than warn them
not to take too much out of their horses. 'Gad!' adds the old fellow,
'I'd like some of them fashionable ladies who talk of their riding to
see you two.' After a couple of hours' riding, they come across some
black boys who have been keeping the cattle from going back to the
hills. They now know that the outside boundary is reached. Fastened on
each of their saddles is a stock whip, which each now takes off, and a
few preliminary cracks are given. Fancy your town girls cracking and
handling a whip sixteen feet long! After a short halt for a spell, Tyton
himself gallops along the ranks and orders all to push on. That is the
signal for a general shout, cracking of whips, barking of dogs, and
yells from the niggers: soon there is one vast crowd of living animals
in front of them. Now and then a refractory beast breaks away and rushes
the ranks, but the horses are on the alert, and they soon round him in,
for there is no tugging required--you merely stick to your pigskin. Hil
and Susy are doing their share along the line and are about four hundred
yards apart. Presently a small mob, led on by a huge black bull, charges
right between them, and, followed by others, dashes back towards the
mountains. The girls' horses are after them, but do not, as you may
suppose, attempt to head them. They are quite content to ride alongside
the leader, who, being in good forward condition, begins to blow. A
signal is given, and both girls take a fierce grip of their whips, and
make direct for the bull; he is nonplussed, seeing two horses coming in
opposite directions and gradually slackens down until he comes to a
stop, and there he stands pawing the ground, his tail erect, his eyes
glistening. Like a stroke of lightning two horses pass him, and before
he knows what's up he feels a couple of severe cuts across his head.
This is repeated, and very soon he is glad to be allowed to turn back
and go on peacefully. The girls meet and begin chatting on some outside
topic, without a