three o'clock
As they struck this rise , the feverish cattle raised their heads and pulled out as if that vagrant breeze had brought them a message that succor and rest lay just beyond . The point men had orders to let them go , and as fast as the rear herds came up and struck this imaginary line or air current , a single moan would surge back through the herd until it died out at the rear . By noon there was a solid column of cattle ten miles long , and two hours later the drag and point men had trouble in keeping the different herds from mixing . Without a halt , by three o'clock the lead foremen were turning their charges right and left , and shortly afterward the lead cattle were plunging into the purling waters of the South Llano . The rear herds turned off above and below , filling the river for five miles , while the hollow-eyed animals gorged themselves until a half dozen died that evening and night . Leaving orders with the foremen to rest their herds well and move out half a day apart , I rode night and day returning to Uvalde . Catching the first stage out , I reached San Antonio in time to overtake Major Hunter , who was awaiting the arrival of the last beef herd from the lower country , the three lead ones having already passed that point .