midnight
We overtook the abandoned herd during the afternoon . They were strung out nearly five miles in length , and were walking about a three-mile gait . Four men were given two extra horses apiece and left to throw in the stragglers in the rear , with instructions to follow them well into the night , and again in the morning as long as their canteens lasted . The remainder of the outfit pushed on without a halt , except to change mounts , and reached the lakes shortly after midnight . There we secured the first good sleep of any consequence for three days . It was fortunate for us that there were no range cattle at these lakes , and we had only to cover a front of about six miles to catch the drifting herd . It was nearly noon the next day before the cattle began to arrive at the water holes in squads of from twenty to fifty .