On the Cattle Ranges. 61 



ding, wrapped and corded it into bundles, and huddled 

 sullenly round the little fires. The horse wranglers were 

 driving in the saddle bands. All the cattle got on their 

 feet and started feeding. In a few minutes the hasty 

 breakfast at the wagons had evidently been despatched for 

 we 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 '11 pitch camp by the big blasted cottonwood 

 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 



