； 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 lauding； 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 dropped down through sheer weakness； a thing which I had never seen before except in wild horses。
A number of the boys were attacked by chills； and towards evening had to be excused for fear of cramps。 By six o'clock we were reduced to two squads； with about fifty cattle still remaining in the river。 Forrest and I had quit the water after the fourth trip； but Quince had a man named De Manse； a Frenchman； who swam like a wharf…rat and who stayed to the finish； while I turned my crew over to Runt Pickett。 The latter was raised on the coast of Texas； and when a mere boy could swim all day； with or without occasion。 Dividing the remaining beeves as near equally as possible； Runt's squad pushed off slightly in advance of De Manse； the remainder of us riding along the bank with the horses and clothing； and cheering our respective crews。 The Frenchman was but a moment later in taking the water； and as pretty and thrilling a race as I ever witnessed was in progress。 The latter practiced a trick； when catching a favorable current； of dipping the rump of a steer； thus lifting his fore parts and rocking him forward like a porpoise。 When a beef dropped to the rear； this process was resorted to； and De Manse promised to overtake Pickett。 From our position on the bank； we shouted to Runt to dip his drag cattle in swift water； but amid the din and splash of the struggling swimmers our messages failed to reach his ears。 De Manse was gaining slowly； when Pickett's bunch were driven inshore； a number of them catching a footing； and before they could be again pushed off； the Frenchman's cattle were at their heels。 A number of De Manse's men were swimming shoreward of their charges； and succeeded in holding their beeves off the ledge； which was the last one before the landing。 The remaining hundred yards was eddy water； and though Pickett fought hard； swimming among the Frenchman's lead cattle； to hold the two bunches separate； they mixed in the river。 As an evidence of victory； however； when the cattle struck a foothold； Runt and each of his men mounted a beef and rode out of the water some distance。 As the steers recovered and attempted to dislodge their riders； they nimbly sprang from their backs and hustled themselves into their ragged clothing。
I breathed easier after the last cattle landed； though Forrest contended there was never any danger。 At least a serious predicament had been blundered into and handled； as was shown by subsequent events。 At noon that day； rumblings of thunder were heard in the Black Hills country to the west； a warning to get across the river as soon as possible。 So the situation at the close of the day was not a very encouraging one to either Forrest or myself。 The former had his cattle split in two bunches； while I had my wagon and remuda on the other side of the river from my herd。 But the emergency must be met。 I sent a messenger after our wagon； it was brought back near the river； and a hasty supper was ordered。 Two of my boys were sent up to the dry wash to recross the river and drift our cattle down somewhere near the wagon…crossing； thus separating the herds for the night。 I have never made claim to being overbright； but that evening I did have sense or intuition enough to take our saddle horses back across the river。 My few years of trail life had taught me the importance of keeping in close touch with our base of subsistence； while the cattle and the saddle stock for handling them should under no circumstances ever be separated。 Yet under existing conditions it was impossible to recross our commissary； and darkness fell upon us encamped on th& south side of the Big Cheyenne。
The night passed with almost constant thunder and lightning in the west。 At daybreak heavy dark clouds hung low in a semicircle all around the northwest； threatening falling weather； and hasty preparations were made to move down the stream in search of a crossing。 In fording the river to breakfast； my outfit agreed that there had been no perceptible change in the stage of water overnight； which quickened our desire to move at once。 The two wagons were camped close together； and as usual Forrest was indifferent and unconcerned over the threatening weather； he had left his remuda all night on the north side of the river； and had actually turned loose the rescued contingent of cattle。 I did not mince my words in giving Mr。 Forrest my programme； when he turned on me； saying： 〃Quirk； you have more trouble than a married woman。 What do I care if it is raining in London or the Black Hills either？ Let her rain； our sugar and salt are both covered； and we can lend you some if yours gets wet。 But you go right ahead and follow up Sponsilier； he may not find a crossing this side of the Belle Fourche。 I can take spades and axes； and in two hours' time cut down and widen that wagon…way until the herds can cross。 I would ft be as fidgety as you are for a large farm。 You ought to take something for your nerves。〃
I had a mental picture of John Quincy Forrest doing any manual labor with an axe or spade。 During our short acquaintance that had been put to the test too often to admit of question； but I encouraged him to fly right at the bank； assuring him that in case his tools became heated； there was always water at hand to cool them。 The wrangler had rustled in the wagon…mules for our cook； and Forrest was still ridiculing my anxiety to move； when a fusillade of shots was heard across and up the river。 Every man at both wagons was on his feet in an instant； not one of us even dreaming that the firing of the boys on herd was a warning； when Quince's horsewrangler galloped up and announced a flood…wave coming down the river。 A rush was made for our horses； and we struck for the ford； dashing through the shallows and up the farther bank without drawing rein。 With a steady rush； a body of water； less than a mile distant； greeted our vision； looking like the falls of some river； rolling forward like an immense cylinder。 We sat our horses in bewilderment of the scene； though I had often heard Jim Flood describe the sudden rise of streams which had mountain tributaries。 Forrest and his men crossed behind us； leaving but the cooks and a horse…wrangler on the farther side。 It was easily to be seen that all the lowlands along the river would be inundated； so I sent Levering back with orders to hook up the team and strike for tall timber。 Following suit； Forrest sent two men to rout the contingent of cattle out of a bend which was nearly a mile below the wagons。 The wave； apparently ten to twelve feet high； moved forward slowly； great walls lopping off on the side and flooding out over the bottoms； while on the farther shore every cranny and arroyo claimed its fill from the avalanche of water。 The cattle on the south side were safe； grazing well back on the uplands； so we gave the oncoming floodour undivided attention。 It was traveling at the rate of eight to ten miles an hour； not at a steady pace； but sometimes almost halting when the bottoms absorbed its volume； only to catch its breath and forge ahead again in angry impetuosity。 As the water passed us on the bluff bank； several waves broke over and washed around our horses' feet； filling the wagon…way； but the main volume rolled across the narrow valley on the opposite side。 The wagons had pulled out to higher ground； and while every eye was strained； watching for the rescued beeves to come out of the bend below； Vick Wolf； who happened to look upstream； uttered a single shout of warning and dashed away。 Turning in our saddles； we saw within five hundred feet of us a second wave about half the height of the first one。 Rowels and quirts were plied with energy and will； a