1 6 Ranching in the Bad Lands. 



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 mis- 

 throw. But unless practice is begun very young it is hard 

 to become really 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 loath to leave the herd, always tries to 

 break back into it, can run like a deer, and can dodge like 

 a rabbit ; but a thorough 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 although 

 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 training of their horses. Clumsiness, and 

 still more the slightest approach to timidity, expose a man 

 to the roughest and most merciless raillery ; and the unfit 

 are weeded out by a very rapid process of natural selec- 



