The fifth time Jones closed in on his game, he encountered different circumstances such as called forth his cunning.
The herd had opened up; the mothers had fallen back to the rear; the calves hung almost out of sight under the shaggy sides of protectors.
To try them out Jones darted close and threw his lasso.

It struck a cow.

With activity incredible in such a huge beast, she lunged at him.
Kentuck, expecting just such a move, wheeled to safety.

This duel, ineffectual on both sides, kept up for a while, and all the time, man and herd were jogging rapidly to the north.
Jones could not let well enough alone; he acknowledged this even as he swore he must have five.

Emboldened by his marvelous luck, and yielding headlong to the passion within, he threw caution to the winds.