On the Cattle Ranges 73 



strength could guard from rivals. The nursing 

 does whose kids had come early were often found 

 with the bands; the others kept apart. The kids 

 were very conspicuous figures on the prairies, across 

 which they scudded like jack-rabbits, showing nearly 

 as much speed and alertness as their parents; only 

 the very young sought safety by lying flat to es 

 cape notice. 



The horses cantered and trotted steadily over 

 the mat of buffalo grass, steering for the group 

 of low scoria mounds which was my goal. In mid- 

 afternoon I reached it. The two wagons were 

 drawn up near the spring ; under them lay the night- 

 wranglers, asleep; nearby the teamster-cooks were 

 busy about the evening meal. A little way off the 

 two day-wranglers were watching the horse-herd; 

 into which I speedily turned my own animals. The 

 riders had already driven in the bunches of cattle, 

 and were engaged in branding the calves, and turn 

 ing loose the animals that were not needed, while 

 the remainder were kept, forming the nucleus of 

 the herd which was to accompany the wagon. 



As soon as the work was over the men rode to 

 the wagons; sinewy fellows, with tattered broad- 

 brimmed hats and clanking spurs, some wearing 

 leather shaps or leggings, others having their trou 

 sers tucked into their high-heeled top-boots, all with 

 their flannel shirts and loose neckerchiefs dusty 

 and sweaty. A few were indulging in rough, good- 



4 VOL. II. 



