THE CATTLE STAMPEDE Dave had often heard of cattle stampedes, and he knew how truly dangerous such a mad rush can become.

Sometimes, from practically no cause whatever, a herd of cattle will start on a wild run, going they know not where, and carrying all down before them.
What had started the present stampede did not interest the youth, but he was interested in the question of how he might get out of the herd's way, so that he would not be run down and trodden to a jelly.

To scare the leaders off might be easy, but would not those in the rear push on until he was simply overwhelmed?
"I've got to get away somehow!" he reasoned, and turned his pony at right angles to the approaching cattle.

For the moment the bronco seemed too frightened to budge, but at a cry from Dave, he leaped forward, and then went streaking across the prairies as if he knew his life and that of his rider depended on his speed.
It was now a race for life, for the cattle were still moving in something of a semicircle, and Dave did not know whether or not he would be able to clear the end of the line before it reached him.

He called to the pony, but this was unnecessary, for the bronco evidently understood the peril fully as well as his rider.
Suddenly, when it looked as if pony and youth could not escape, Dave heard a whistle float across the prairie.