"Purdy much the way of it, horses too, an' us. No other way ta do 'er." Pythias said as they reached the river. "Good to see she ain't runnin' fast, that could well be a problem. Means rain upstream. Alla thet water's gotta go someplace, an' down stream's th' path of least resistance. They pulled up and just watched it was moving, but not really quick, enough that both men could see the current. Where they stopped was wide, that would not be the first choice.
"Need ta see if we kin fine a narrower spot for the crossin', here's too wide, so we'll scout on up river a-ways an' hope we come onta a good spot." The way Pythias figured it, they were making good time, but then with Frank teal making good time was normal, he ws not one to dilly-dally about on a drive, neither was he one to push the herd too hard. Cattle lose weight, though they were not headed to market with them, he liked to have the herd show up in good shape.
"Gettin' right close ta noon. But we'll keep on a-ways afore we stop an' put on the feed bag."
Justus nodded, enjoying the easy ride and idle chatter as they followed the riverbank a ways. "Seems like," Justus observed, "that th' more narrow th' river gets, th' steeper th' banks are." And even he didn't need to be told that the chuck wagon in particular couldn't make it down and then back up without some difficulty, and he reckoned that made it harder on the cattle, too.
"Seems like that Mother Nature wants ta make his difficult!" he chuckled, "but at least there's plenty'a shade an' grass. Still, I think I'll feel better once we're over." This would be his first time crossing a major river with the herd, and try as he might, he couldn't help but think of all the things that could go wrong, and he had no desire to drown!
"Patience
son. We ain't but a few steps from the start. Mostly the ground rises and falls. Some places the banks 'er higher 'n others. Some'll have one high an' one low side ta deal with, and, some places both sides'll be low an' easier to cross. We jest need ta find that spot." Pythias related.
Behind them, there was a bend which would mean the herd would have to change direction. Ahead, scrub brush and some trees lined both sides of the Arkansas and as he had said, the low and high sides seemed to change ever couple a hundred yards. "We jest need ta keep looking' bound ta be one prudy soon now. Seems that the banks, when they're high ain't as high as the been. So we're on the right track, alright." He grinned. "You'll see soon enough."
"Reckon the shallower th' bank, th' more it's gonna get churned up by all them hooves," Justus observed. Regardless of how steep the bank was, after the heard had crossed over, it would be worn down some, which seemed kind of ironic, since that would make it easier to cross!
At least this was far better than running with the herd and eating dust, and it was a good chance to see the scenery as they passed.
Soon enough turned out to be better than two hours, but find it they did, a somewhat shallow spot caused by a sand bar. with low banks on both sides. Pythias pulled up and pointed.
"Well now, whadda ya think of that, Justus? Perfect place ta git 'em across!" He said joyously. Happy to have located a spot that they could use. And there was graze on both sides, but in this country, grass was everywhere! "I figger the herds a ways back and the day's gettin' a mite shorter, mayhaps we'll bed 'em down righ'cheer." He looked to the young man, "Whadda ya think?"
With a trail a blind man could follow, Dixie Brick was riding fast to catch up to the two point riders. It was no emergency, but Frank Teal wanted to know what was happening with them, did they find a crossing, or had they run into trouble. So Brick was sent to find out. Frank might have spared another man to ride with him, but if there was trouble Dixie Brick would be enough.
Both Pythias and Justus could hear the rider coming.
"Looks real good!" In fact, the site was just what Justus had pictured when Pythias had described what they were looking for. "Looks plenty wide an' easy ta get across." Provided the cows thought the same thing!
Not that he knew anything about it, but it seemed ideal, an easy in and out so that the cows wouldn't panic and scare each other, or try to trample the one ahead of it to get out of the water. "Ain't that far off th' trail that's been set, either," he observed. The herd would have to be turned a little, but nothing drastic. "And," he continued with a grin, "that far side looks like a real good place ta have some'a Cookie's..."
He stopped and spun Mule to face the sound of an approaching rider, his hand going to the pistol at his side, ready for trouble!
@flip
Dixie skidded his mount to a halt raising his hand when he saw Pythias and Justus. "Whoa!" He shouted. "Hey boys! Boss wondered if you found a spot so here I am ta find out, and it shore looks to me like ya found a doozy!"
"Damn it, Brick! We coulda shot ya!" Pythias hollered back at the rider. "An yep, this here'll do jest fine ta git them doggies across't. Seen a couple, but not so good as this 'un. The boy here spotted it fust."
"Danged if it ain't a peach. Believe I'll have me some jerked meat an' then head on back, you boys gonna stay here, 'er gwan back?" Dixie asked, reaching for his saddle bag.
"Nah, we'll sit tight. How long afore the herd gets here?" He asked.
"Couple hours likely." Brick said opening a cloth to reveal a couple of slices of jerked meat, "Maybe sooner, but you know Frank, he don't push less he's gotta." Brick nodded toward the crossing, "Good job, Wheeler. Real good. Well, you boys rest easy now, see ya in a bit," He wheeled his horse and thundered off, chewing on the jerky as he went.
Justus relaxed as he recognized the rider, then couldn't help but puff up with pride as Pythias praised him. "Just got here first," he chuckled. "We can stay an' guard th' place, so no other herd comes along an' takes our crossin'." He was joking, of course, but then he asked, more seriously, "Is there anything we can do ta make it easier? Think we ought'a see how deep it gets?"
Seemed that it would be helpful to know if the cows could just walk across, or if they were going to have to swim, and how far they might have to swim.
"We're just about to do that, only trouble with any crossing' is the wagon." Pythias informed him, "Ever' thing else can swim it! Jest like you an' me is about ta do, and maybe, she ain't so deep an' the bottom and to terrible sandy. That make's 'er tough on the wagon gettin' across."
It would take several riders to help get the chuckwagon across with a soft bottom, but at the moment everything was speculation until they started across, then they would know about the depth, and about the bottom condition.
"So lead on Mista Wheeler, let's see whot we got here." Pythias directed.
Justus glanced over at Pythias, wondering if this was the man's way of teaching him, or if he was setting him up for, literally, a fall into deep water? Didn't matter none, Justus was learning, regardless, and there was certainly no harm in wading into a river. Even if the bottom dropped off, Mule could swim.
Mule might be able to swim, but the horse had other ideas. As soon as he wandered into the water he started to drink, which was fine, but then he started pawing at the water, splashing it up around Justus' boots. "Oh, no you don't!"
But just as Justus tried to pull the horse's head up, Mule dropped his right shoulder, then just rolled-laid down in the water, rider, saddle and all! At the last second, Justus bailed, avoiding being rolled on, but sprawling on his butt in the water that was at least still shallow here.
"Well, danged nag!" He struggled to his feet just as Mule stood, then gave a mighty shake!
(Been there, done that!)