"We'll have to ride it out. I wouldn't be held up on the reservation now for anything. That would spoil it all. They would do anything they wanted with us if we stood for that, and throw out a lot of legitimate stock to get square with us." "What do you mean?" "If they're soldiers, and try to keep us in, you ride back and start the herd to stampeding. Let the soldiers take care of themselves. If they're regular cavalry, they will be able to ride well enough to get out of the way." "Bully idea. O' course, we can't help it if the cattle get scared at them bright uniforms, an' git ter runnin'." Bud chuckled at the thought. "Halt!" The voice of Lieutenant Barrows rang out commandingly. "Now's your chance, Bud," said Ted. "Mind you, get them started good and plenty. I don't care if they run five miles." Presently, from the rear of the herd came a shout of warning, and the herd increased its speed from a lazy walk into a trot. Back in the darkness the cowboys were riding through the herd hurrying up the cattle with their quirts. From a trot they broke into a gallop, and this soon grew into a perfect rout, for cattle are easily frightened at night. As soon as Ted saw that the cattle were going to run, sure enough, he dashed across the intervening space to where the dark forms were standing in the path of the oncoming cattle. He saw at once that it was Lieutenant Barrows and a squad of cavalrymen, and that they were armed with carbines. He resented this, as the lieutenant had no business to arm his men in this way for such an errand. As Ted rode up, he shouted: "Get out of the way, if you don't want to be trampled to death." "What do you mean, you scoundrel?" shouted Barrows. "Halt, when I give the command, or take the consequences." "Out of the way, you fool!" shouted Ted, as he swept past. "Don't you see that the cattle are stampeding?" If the lieutenant did not know it, being so recently out of West Point, the men did, for with a yell they turned and rode like mad for the side lines. Then, for the first time, the young officer, hearing the sullen bellow of the cattle and the thunder of the hoofs, turned and followed Ted. But the leaders were almost upon him, and, realizing that death was following him fast, he gave an agonizing cry. Ted heard the cry, and understood its import. While he disliked and despised the bullying officer, he had no desire to see harm come to him. The lieutenant's horse, while a good-enough cavalry animal in times of peace, was not the match of the cow ponies, and was already badly winded, as well as frightened, and was losing ground steadily. "Bear off to the right!" shouted Ted repeatedly. But the officer was evidently too frightened or rattled to understand, and kept blundering along. Ted saw that disaster was sure to follow in a short while if Barrows didn't change his tactics.