36 The Wilderness Hunter 



provised rope-corral. The men roped fresh horses, 

 fitted for the cutting-work round the herd, with its 

 attendant furious galloping and flash-like turning 

 and twisting. In a few minutes all were in the 

 saddle again and riding toward the cattle. 



Then began that scene of excitement and turmoil, 

 and seeming confusion, but real method and order- 

 liness, so familiar to all who have engaged in stock- 

 growing on the great plains. The riders gathered in 

 a wide ring round the herd of uneasy cattle, and a 

 couple of men rode into their midst to cut out the 

 beef steers and the cows that were followed by un- 

 branded calves. As soon as the animal was picked 

 out the cowboy began to drive it slowly toward the 

 outside of the herd, and when it was near the edge 

 he suddenly raced it into the open. The beast would 

 then start at full speed and try to double back among 

 its fellows ; while the trained cow-pony followed like 

 a shadow, heading it off at every turn. The riders 

 round that part of the herd opened out' and the 

 chosen animal was speedily hurried off to some spot 

 a few hundred yards distant, where it was left un- 

 der charge of another cowboy. The latter at first 

 had his hands full in preventing his charge from re- 

 joining the herd; for cattle dread nothing so much 

 as being separated from their comrades. However, 

 as soon as two or three others were driven out, 

 enough to form a little bunch, it became a much 

 easier matter to hold the "cut," as it is called. The 



