The cattle ran easily enough, with long, springy jumps that carried them over the ground faster than appearances would lead one to believe.

The cow-pony, his nose stretched out, his ears slanted, his eyes snapping with joy of the chase, flew fairly "belly to earth." The rider sat slightly forward, with the cowboy's loose seat.
A whirl of dust, strangely insignificant against the immensity of a desert morning, rose from the flying group.

Now they disappeared in a ravine, only to scramble out again the next instant, pace undiminished.
The rider merely rose slightly and threw up his elbows to relieve the jar of the rough gully.

At first the cattle seemed to hold their own, but soon the horse began to gain.

In a short time he had come abreast of the leading animal.
The latter stopped short with a snort, dodged back, and set out at right angles to his former course.