noon
In a few moments the cattle had stopped . A cordon of horsemen sat at equal distances holding them in . `` Pretty good haul , '' said the man next to me ; `` a good five thousand head . '' It was somewhere near noon by the time we had bunched and held the herd of some four or five thousand head in the smooth , wide flat , free from bushes and dog holes . Each sat at ease on his horse facing the cattle , watching lazily the clouds of dust and the shifting beasts , but ready at any instant to turn back the restless or independent individuals that might break for liberty . Out of the haze came Homer , the round-up captain , on an easy lope . As he passed successively the sentries he delivered to each a low command , but without slacking pace .