noon
He started for Priest , who gave the quirt to his horse , and for the first quarter mile had a close race . The steer , however , weakened by the severe treatment he had been subjected to , soon fell to the rear , and gave up the chase and continued on his way to the herd . After this incident we worked down the river until the outfits met . We finished the work before noon , having lost three full days by the quicksands of the Canadian . As we pulled into the trail that afternoon near the first divide and looked back to take a parting glance at the river , we saw a dust cloud across the Canadian which we knew must he the Ellison herd under Nat Straw . Quince Forrest , noticing it at the same time as I did , rode forward and said to me , `` Well , old Nat will get it in the neck this time , if that old girl dallies with him as she did with us . I do n't wish him any bad luck , but I do hope he 'll bog enough cattle to keep his hand in practice .