26 



RANCH LIFE AND THE HUNTING-TRAIL 



can see them peer out into the open, or make their way down, timidly 

 and cautiously, to drink at the river. The stable, sheds, and other out- 

 buildings, with the hayricks and the pens for such cattle as we bring in 

 during winter, are near the house ; the patch of fenced garden land is 

 on the edge of the woods ; and near the middle of the glade stands the 

 high, circular horse-corral, with a snubbing-post in the center, and a wing 

 built out from one side of the gate entrance, so that the saddle-band can 

 be driven in without trouble. As it is very hard to work cattle where 

 there is much brush, the larger cow-corral is some four miles off on an 

 open bottom. 



A ranchman's life is certainly a very pleasant one, albeit generally 

 varied with plenty of hardship and anxiety. Although occasionally he 

 passes days of severe toil, for example, if he goes on the round-up he 

 works as hard as any of his men, yet he no longer has to undergo the 

 monotonous drudgery attendant upon the tasks of the cowboy or of the 

 apprentice in the business. His fare is simple ; but, if he chooses, it is 

 good enough. Many ranches are provided with nothing at all but salt 

 pork, canned goods, and bread; indeed, it is a curious fact that in traveling 

 through the cow country it is often impossible to get any milk or butter ; 

 but this is only because the owners or managers are too lazy to take 

 enough trouble 

 to insure their 

 own comfort. 

 We ourselves 

 always keep up 



>r7,, f. 



ELK HORN RANCH BUILDINGS. 



two or three cows, choos- 

 ing such as are naturally 

 tame, and so we invari- 

 ably have plenty of milk 

 and, when there is time for churning, a good deal of butter. We also 

 keep hens, which, in spite of the damaging inroads of hawks, bob-cats, 

 and foxes, supply us with eggs, and in time of need, when our rifles have 

 failed to keep us in game, with stewed, roast, or fried chicken also. From 

 our garden we get potatoes, and unless drought, frost, or grasshoppers 



