"That? Why-- er that is-- um-- curious, I can't just say what it is,"
replied Mr. Snodgrass.

"I have a small telescope," said Ned, producing it from his pocket,
"We'll take a look through it," and he adjusted it, focusing it on the
dark ring, that was, every moment, growing closer and closer to the
little group on the hill.

CHAPTER IX

A LUCKY ESCAPE

"WHAT do you make it to be?" asked Jerry, as Ned was staring through
the glass.

"Cattle!"

"Cattle?"

"Yes, steers. Thousands of 'em. And they seem to be headed this way."

"Let me take a look," said Jerry. "You're right," he added, after an
inspection. "They seem to be coming on rather fast, too. I guess we'd
better get out of here. Cattle on the prairies don't like to see
persons who are not on horseback. They are not used to a man unless
he's mounted, and I've read that a man on foot may cause a stampede."

"I hope they don't run in this direction," remarked Bob. "It's going
to be unpleasant for us if they do."