Experience told me that the cattle had been watered, a fact which was thankfully noted.

Watered cattle cannot be driven except at a very slow walk, and the herd was still seven or eight miles from the Texas line.

M----'s foreman had made a fatal mistake! Had he not watered them they might have escaped us.

They must have thought they had hoodwinked me and were probably then rejoicing at their success.

They had certainly made a noble effort, having travelled all night and on till noon next day at a speed I had not thought possible.