We spent an hour watering the horses from the wells of our camp of the night before, and about two o’clock started back over the trail for Indian Lakes.  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.  Pitiful objects as they were, it was a novelty to see them reach the water and slack their thirst.  Wading out into the lakes until their sides were half covered, they would stand and low in a soft moaning voice, often for half an hour before attempting to drink.  Contrary to our expectation, they drank very little at first, but stood in the water for hours.  After coming out, they would lie down and rest for hours longer, and then drink again before attempting to graze, their thirst overpowering hunger.  That they were blind there was no question, but with the causes that produced it once removed, it was probable their eyesight would gradually return.

By early evening, the rear guard of our outfit returned and reported the tail end of the herd some twenty miles behind when they left them.  During the day not over a thousand head reached the lakes, and towards evening we put these under herd and easily held them during the night.  All four of the men who constituted the rear guard were sent back the next morning to prod up the rear again, and during the night at least a thousand more came into the lakes, which held them better than a hundred men.  With the recovery of the cattle our hopes grew, and with the gradual accessions to the herd, confidence was again completely restored.  Our saddle stock, not having suffered as had the cattle, were in a serviceable condition, and while a few men were all that were necessary to hold the herd, the others scoured the country for miles in search of any possible stragglers which might have missed the water.

During the forenoon of the third day at the lakes, Nat Straw, the foreman of Ellison’s first herd on the trail, rode up to our camp.  He was scouting for water for his herd, and, when our situation was explained and he had been interrogated regarding loose cattle, gave us the good news that no stragglers in our road brand had been met by their outfit.  This was welcome news, for we had made no count yet,