Once in a while some enterprising cow, observing the opening between the men, would start to walk out.

Others would fall in behind her until the movement would become general.

Then one of us would swing his leg off the pommel and jog his pony over to head them off.

They would return peacefully enough.
But one black muley cow, with a calf as black and muley as herself, was more persistent.

Time after time, with infinite patience, she tried it again the moment my back was turned.