On the Cattle Ranges 77 



could see the men forming rope corrals into which 

 the ponies were driven; then each man saddled, 

 bridled, and mounted his horse, two or three of the 

 half-broken beasts bucking, rearing, and plunging 

 frantically in the vain effort to unseat their riders. 



The two men who were first in the saddle relieved 

 Latigo and myself, and we immediately galloped to 

 camp, shifted our saddles to fresh animals, gulped 

 down a cup or two of hot coffee, and some pork, 

 beans and bread, and rode to the spot where the 

 others were gathered, lolling loosely in their saddles, 

 and waiting for the round-up boss to assign them 

 their tasks. We were the last, and as soon as we 

 arrived the boss divided all into two parties for the 

 morning work, or "circle riding," whereby the cattle 

 were to be gathered for the round-up proper. Then, 

 as the others started, he turned to me and remarked : 

 "We've got enough hands to drive this open country 

 without you ; but we're out of meat, and I don't want 

 to kill a beef for such a small outfit ; can't you shoot 

 some antelope this morning? We'll pitch camp by 

 the big blasted cotton wood at the foot of the ash 

 coulies, over yonder, below the breaks of Dry 

 Creek." 



Of course I gladly assented, and was speedily 

 riding alone across the grassy slopes. There was 

 no lack of the game I was after, for from every rise 

 of ground I could see antelope scattered across the 

 prairie, singly, in couples, or in bands. But their 



