IN THE OLD WEST 245 



herds of cattle roam half-wild on the plains, and 

 bands of mules and horses, whose fame has even 

 reached the distant table-lands of the Rocky 

 Mountains, and excited the covetousness of the 

 hunters and thousands of which, from the day 

 they are foaled to that of their death, never feel 

 a saddle on their backs cover the country. In- 

 dians (Mansitos) idle round the skirts of these 

 vast herds (whose very numbers keep them to- 

 gether), living, at their own choice, upon the flesh 

 of mule, or ox, or horse. 



