62 RANCH LIFE AND THE HUNTING-TRAIL 



ter is after ; he will then follow it closely of his own accord through every 

 wheel and double at top speed. When looking through the herd, it is 

 necessary to move slowly ; and when any animal is found it is taken to 

 the outskirts at a walk, so as not to alarm the others. Once at the out- 

 side, however, the cowboy has to ride like lightning ; for as soon as the 

 beast he is after finds itself separated from its companions it endeavors to 

 break back among them, and a young, range- raised steer or heifer runs 

 like a deer. In cutting out a cow and a calf two men have to work 

 together. As the animals of a brand are cut out they are received and 

 held apart by some rider detailed for the purpose, who is said to be 

 "holding the cut." 



All this time the men holding the herd have their hands full, for some 

 animal is continually trying to break out, when the nearest man flies at it 

 at once and after a smart chase brings it back to its fellows. As soon as 

 all the cows, calves, and whatever else is being gathered have been cut 

 out, the rest are driven clear off the ground and turned loose, being 

 headed in the direction contrary to that in which we travel the following 

 day. Then the riders surround the next herd, the men holding cuts move 

 them up near it, and the work is begun anew. 



If it is necessary to throw an animal, either to examine a brand or for 

 any other reason, half a dozen men will have their ropes down at once ; 

 and then it is spur and quirt in the rivalry to see which can outdo the 

 other until the beast is roped and thrown. A first-class hand will, 

 unaided, rope, throw, and tie down a cow or steer in wonderfully short 

 time ; one of the favorite tests of competitive skill among the cowboys is 

 the speed with which this feat can be accomplished. Usually, however, 

 one man ropes the animal by the head and another at the same time gets 

 the loop of his lariat over one or both its hind legs, when it is twisted 

 over and stretched out in a second. In following an animal on horse- 

 back the man keeps steadily swinging the rope round his head, by a dex- 

 terous motion of the wrist only, until he gets a chance to throw it ; when 

 on foot, especially if catching horses in a corral, the loop is allowed to 

 drag loosely on the ground. A good roper will hurl out the coil with 

 marvelous accuracy and force ; it fairly whistles through the air, and set- 

 tles round the object with almost infallible certainty. Mexicans make the 

 best ropers ; but some Texans are very little behind them. A good horse 

 takes as much interest in the work as does his rider, and the instant the 

 noose settles over the victim wheels and braces himself to meet the shock, 

 standing with his legs firmly planted, the steer or cow being thrown with 

 a jerk. An unskillful rider and untrained horse will often themselves be 

 thrown when the strain comes. 



