One terrible second passed in which I thought he would slide straight into the hole again.
Then he found his footing.
He stood.
Neither of us let go immediately.
The calf trembled so hard I could see it through his whole body. Mud dripped from his belly. His legs were spread awkwardly beneath him, and each breath moved his sides.
Ben and I waited until he was steadier before easing the support away.
I stepped back and sat down hard on the dry bank.
My hands were still shaped around the strap.
I had to make myself open them.
For several seconds, all three of us simply breathed.
Then the calf turned toward the trees.
His ears lifted.
He made a small call.
No answer came.
That was when the next problem settled over us.
We had freed him, but his family was gone from view.
Ben checked with the patrol over the radio. Other rangers began looking along the direction the herd had traveled, keeping enough distance to avoid driving them farther away.
