two o'clock
The heavy beeves , equally select with the vanguard , floundered into the pools , lowed in their joy , drank to gorging , fought their fellows , staggered out of the creek , and dropped to rest in the first dust or dry grass . Priest trimmed his own beeves and remuda . A third herd appeared , when he and the acting foreman culled over both horses and cattle , and sent the second herd on its way . Each of the three advance herds must reach the Republican the following day , and it was scant two o'clock when the third one trailed out from the Beaver . With mature cattle there were few cripples , and the day ended with an addition to the little ranch of the promised horses and a few tender-footed beeves . There were two more herds of heavy beef cattle to follow , which would arrive during the next forenoon , and the old foreman remained over until the last cattle , intended for army delivery , had passed the ranch . The herd never fails .