noon
We made a dry camp that night on the divide between the road house and the last water , and the next forenoon reached the South Fork of the Big Cheyenne . The water was not even running in it , but there were several long pools , and we held the cattle around them for over an hour , until every hoof had been thoroughly watered . McCann had filled every keg and canteen in advance of the arrival of the herd , and Flood had exercised sufficient caution , in view of what lay before us , to buy an extra keg and a bull 's - eye lantern at the road house . After watering , we trailed out some four or five miles and camped for noon , but the herd were allowed to graze forward until they lay down for their noonday rest . As the herd passed opposite the wagon , we cut a fat two-year-old stray heifer and killed her for beef , for the inner man must be fortified for the journey before us . After a two hours ' siesta , we threw the herd on the trail and started on our way . The wagon and saddle horses were held in our immediate rear , for there was no telling when or where we would make our next halt of any consequence .