Ranching in the Bad Lands 21 



to continue its journey; and the cows and calves 

 are driven into the corral, where the latter are 

 roped, thrown, and branded. In throwing the rope 

 from horseback, the loop, held in the right hand, is 

 swung round and round the head by a motion of the 

 wrist; when on foot, the hand is usually held by 

 the side, the loop dragging on the ground. It is 

 a pretty sight to see a man who knows how use the 

 rope; again and again an expert will catch fifty 

 animals by the leg without making a misthrow. 

 But unless practice is begun very young it is hard 

 to become proficient. 



Cutting out cattle, next to managing a stampeded 

 herd at night, is that part of the cowboy s work 

 needing the boldest and most skilful horsemanship. 

 A young heifer or steer is very loth to leave the 

 herd, always tries to break back into it, can run 

 like a deer, and can dodge like a rabbit; but a thor 

 ough cattle pony enjoys the work as much as its 

 rider, and follows a beast like a four-footed fate 

 through every double and turn. The ponies for the 

 cutting-out or afternoon work are small and quick; 

 those used for the circle-riding in the morning have 

 need rather to be strong and rangey. 



The work on a round-up is very hard, but al 

 though the busiest it is also the pleasantest part 

 of a cowboy s existence. His food is good, though 

 coarse, and his sleep is sound indeed ; while the work 

 is very exciting and is done in company, under the 

 stress of an intense rivalry between all the men, 

 both as to their own skill^ and as to the speed and 



