four o'clock in the
afternoon
The fifth day out from Red Rock was an excessively sultry one , and suffering would have resulted to the herd had we not been following a divide where we caught an occasional breeze . The river lay some ten miles to our right , while before us a tributary could be distinctly outlined by the cottonwoods which grew along it . Since early morning we had been paralleling the creek , having nooned within sight of its confluence with the mother stream , and consequently I had considered it unnecessary to ride ahead and look up the water . When possible , we always preferred watering the herd between three and four o'clock in the afternoon . But by holding our course , we were certain to intersect the creek at about the usual hour for the cattle 's daily drink , and besides , as the creek neared the river , it ran through an alkali flat for some distance . But before the time arrived to intersect the creek on our course , the herd turned out of the trail , determined to go to the creek and quench their thirst . The entire outfit , however , massed on the right flank , and against their will we held them on their course .