six o'clock
They struggled constantly for the inshore , but Runt rode their rumps alternately , the displacement lifting their heads out of the water to good advantage . When we finally landed , the two big fellows staggered out of the river and dropped down through sheer weakness , a thing which I had never seen before except in wild horses . A number of the boys were attacked by chills , and towards evening had to be excused for fear of cramps . By six o'clock we were reduced to two squads , with about fifty cattle still remaining in the river . Forrest and I had quit the water after the fourth trip ; but Quince had a man named De Manse , a Frenchman , who swam like a wharf-rat and who stayed to the finish , while I turned my crew over to Runt Pickett . The latter was raised on the coast of Texas , and when a mere boy could swim all day , with or without occasion . Dividing the remaining beeves as near equally as possible , Runt 's squad pushed off slightly in advance of De Manse , the remainder of us riding along the bank with the horses and clothing , and cheering our respective crews .