"We couldn't herd them in the dark. Besides, it's an extensive fire,
and I'm doubtful whether we could get down to the water farther along."

They waited for an hour, keeping the cattle together with some trouble,
and watching the blaze, which grew brighter rapidly. At last, wisps of
pungent smoke rolled into the bluff.

"The beasts are ready to stampede!" George suddenly called to Edgar.
"We'll have to make a start! Get into the saddle and drive them toward
the ford!"

They were very busy for a while. Their horses were hard to manage, the
timber was thick, and the herd attempted to break away through it; but
at last they reached the steep dip to the waterside. One beast plunged
in and vanished, more followed, and George, plying his quirt and
shouting, rode in among the diminishing drove. He felt the water
lapping about his boots, and then the horse lost its footing. George
dropped from the saddle and seized a stirrup. For some minutes he
could see a few dark objects about him, but they disappeared, and he
and the horse were swept away down-stream.

He kept hold--the animal was swimming strongly--and after a time a
lurid flash of lightning showed him a black mass of trees close ahead.
They vanished, the succeeding darkness was impenetrable, and the crash
of thunder was deadened by the roar of water. For a moment or two his
head was driven under, but when he got it clear, another dazzling flash
revealed a high bank only a few yards away, and when thick darkness
followed he felt the horse rise to its feet. Then he touched soft
bottom, and a little later scrambled up an almost precipitous slope