2O Sport and Life. 



camp and such abundant bunch-grass. The packs have to be 

 re-divided among the lot of horses, or, rather, among the number of 

 pack-horses, for there are a couple of spare mares, as well as two 

 colts which were born on the trip, in the outfit. Each horse has, of 

 course, its own particular pack-saddle, fitted to its back as well as 

 such simple tools as a jack-knife and a file can manage. Some 

 have only one cinche or girth, others have two, which latter, if the 

 animal will stand the double pressure, is always better, for it insures 

 steady " riding" for the load in a mountainous country. Not a few 

 horses, however, raise such persistent objections to the double girth 

 as to endanger the load, however securely it is lashed to their back. 



The pack-horses must be packed last, for otherwise they will 

 roll and try other little dodges to rid themselves of the loads while 

 the riding horses are being saddled. At last everything is ready, 

 the men swing themselves into the saddle, the dogs jump about 

 barking, and, with a loud whoop from the rear men, the cavalcade 

 sets itself into motion. For two or three hours the pack-horses 

 will keep in file without much urging, but as soon as they get 

 hungry there will be more trouble to prevent them from straying. 



Let me say a word here about packing. To accomplish this in 

 approved western fashion is a thing easier to write about than to 

 learn. Let it be remembered that there are two ways of " packing," 

 the difference lying in the rigging, which again is dependent upon 

 the ends in view. Where time is less of an object than the ques- 

 tion of transporting the greatest weight upon horse or mule, the 

 old-fashioned Spanish aparejo is used. This consists of two great 

 bags of heavy leather that hang down on either side connected by 

 a broad band of the same material that goes over the horse's back. 

 The part that comes to lie upon the animal's sides is stiffened 

 with ribs of round willow sticks that can be slipped in and 

 out for repairs. Inside these ribs is placed a layer of hay, 

 making a sort of pad to take the strain of the lash-ropes which 

 fasten the load down. Thus, the pressure of a properly " set up " 

 aparejo comes upon the sides, leaving the backbone and withers as 

 free as possible. The weight of this rig is very much greater than 



