CHAPTER XVI
THE JOKE THAT FAILED
The two girls rode into the melting darkness of the night, and once out of the radiance of the campfires became suddenly appreciative of the subdued sounds arising from the far-extending valley in which the herd lay
At a great distance a coyote howled in mournful cadence. There was the uncertain movements of the cattle on the riders' left hand—here one lapped its body with its great tongue—again horns clashed—then a big steer staggered to its feet and blew through its nostrils a great sigh. There was, too, the steady chewing of many, many cuds.
A large part of the herd was lying down. Although stars flecked the sky quite thickly the whole valley in which the cattle fed seemed overmantled with a pall of blackness. Shapes loomed through this with sudden, uncertain outline.
"My! it's shivery, isn't it?" whispered Ruth.
"There won't nothing bite us," chuckled the Western girl. "Huh! what's that?"
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