ON THE CATTLE RANGES. 75 



lying close together on the level plain ; and 

 then the dim figure of a horseman rose vaguely 

 from the darkness and moved by in silence ; 

 it was the other of the two midnight guards, 

 on his way back to his broken slumber. 



At once we began to ride slowly round the 

 cattle in opposite directions. We were silent, 

 for the night was clear, and the herd quiet ; 

 in wild weather, when the cattle are restless, 

 the cowboys never cease calling and singing 

 as they circle them, for the sounds seem to 

 quiet the beasts. 



For over an hour we steadily paced the end- 

 less round, saying nothing, with our great- 

 coats buttoned, for the air is chill towards 

 morning on the northern plains, even in sum- 

 mer. Then faint streaks of gray appeared in 

 the east. Latigo Strap began to call merrily 

 to the cattle. A coyote came sneaking over 

 the butte nearby, and halted to yell and wail ; 

 afterwards he crossed the coulie and from the 

 hillside opposite again shrieked in dismal 

 crescendo. The dawn brightened rapidly; 

 the little skylarks of the plains began to sing, 

 soaring far overhead, while it was still much 

 too dark to see them. Their song is not 

 powerful, but it is so clear and fresh and long- 

 continued that it always appeals to one very 

 strongly; especially because it is most often 

 heard in the rose-tinted air of the glorious 

 mornings, while the listener sits in the saddle, 

 looking across the endless sweep of the 

 prairies. 



As it grew lighter the cattle became rest- 

 less, rising and stretching themselves, while 

 we continued to ride round them. 



