"None better," admitted John. "It has a fine climate, and when we get there--" At that instant the attention of the boys was attracted by a loud shouting behind them. They turned, to see a crowd of men and boys running after a big brown animal. "One of the cows has got loose," said Nat. "Cows?" exclaimed John. "It's one of the wild steers, and it looks like a dangerous one. Better duck for cover." With a bellow the steer, which had broken from one of the pens, made straight for the boys. In close chase came the crowd. Suddenly the pursuing party throng parted, and, with a yell, a horseman, waving a lasso above his head, galloped after the beast. He was close to him when the steer, which was near the small office where Mr. Post and his friend were, turned sharply and darted off to the right. The horse man, at that instant had made a throw, but the rope went wild, and, a second later, trying to turn his horse quickly the steed stumbled and fell. The steer, with a mad bellow, turned around and started back for the crowd, that had halted. With lowered head, armed with long, sweeping, sharp horns, the angry animal leaped forward. CHAPTER XVIII THE OLD STOCKMAN "Someone will get hurt!" cried Jack. "Here, hold my coat and hat!" exclaimed John, as he thrust those articles of wearing apparel into Nat's hands. "What are you going to do?" asked Jack. "I'm going to rope that steer!" yelled the Indian lad. He ran to where the cattleman had fallen from his horse. The rider's leg was caught, and when he tried to stand, as John helped him up, it was seen that it was broken. "Is the horse a fast one?" John asked, pulling in the lariat, and coiling it. "He sure is," was the answer, while the man stretched out on the ground to wait for aid, which was on the way. A moment later John had mounted the horse and was off on a gallop after the steer, which was circling around in a wild endeavor to escape into the open. It's wild bellows were producing a panic among the other animals, that were dashing about in the pens, in imminent danger of knocking the sides down. As John, who seemed to be perfectly at home in the saddle, rode at the animal, it gave a snort and dashed off down a railroad track. Just ahead of it a freight train was coming, but the steer did not see it, as it dashed on, with lowered head. Straight down the track after the steer, raced John, urging the horse to top speed. Above his head swung the lasso, which the boy handled almost with the skill of a veteran. "Come back!" yelled Mr. Post. "Don't you see the train?" Evidently John did see, but he was not going to stop. He realized that unless he stopped the maddened steer it would dash ahead on into the locomotive. While it could not do the ponderous machine any harm, there was every chance of derailing it, if the wheels ground over the lifeless body, and a wreck might follow.