THE MESA TRAIL 



Men have their season on the mesa as 

 much as plants and four-footed things, and 

 one is not like to meet them out of their 

 time. For example, at the time of rodeos, 

 which is perhaps April, one meets free rid- 

 ing vaqueros who need no trails and can 

 find cattle where to the layman no cattle 

 exist. As early as February bands of sheep 

 work up from the south to the high Si- 

 erra pastures. It appears that shepherds 

 have not changed more than sheep in the 

 process of time. The shy hairy men who 

 herd the tractile flocks might be, except 

 for some added clothing, the very brethren 

 of David. Of necessity they are hardy, 

 simple livers, superstitious, fearful, given to 

 seeing visions, and almost without speech. 

 It needs the bustle of shearings and copi- 

 ous libations of sour, weak wine to re- 

 store the human faculty. Petite Pete, who 

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