ROUND - UPS. 383 



calves, trying to get to their mothers, fill it completely, when 

 the gate is closed. Next, the boys put a rope around a calf's 

 neck, he is taken back into the corral and tied to a tree, another 

 rope, with a slip noose, being placed about his hind legs. A man 

 on a pony takes the rope, gives it a turn or two around the horn 

 of the saddle, the pony pulls and brings the calf down on its 

 side, holding it there until the brand is made and the knife 

 applied, when the rope is taken off its neck, the other rope is 

 dropped and falls off. In this way, when necessary, the large 

 as well as small animals are branded. This is better than 

 branding in a shute, for one can be sure that the brand is good. 



EOUND-UPS. 



The largest and most important round-ups are in the Spring, 

 after the long hair of Winter is shed, generally beginning in the 

 latter part of April, and sometimes extending into June. Word 

 is passed around that a round-up will be at Mr. A's ranch on 

 a certain day. All the cattle on that range are gathered on as 

 smooth a piece of ground as may be found near the ranch. 

 They are kept together, a few men surrounding them ; then 

 those who have cattle ride slowly and gently among them, and 

 as each man finds one of his own animals he drives it gently to 

 the edge of the herd. The horseman slaps his quirt against 

 his leather overalls; the animal, before aware of what is up, is 

 scared out of the herd. Thus a dozen or twenty are cutting out 

 of the same herd at the same time. After all are satisfied, each 

 bunch is inspected to see that all is right. If any dispute arises 

 as to the ownership of an animal, that the brand is not plain, 

 the animal is lassoed, thrown down and the hair shaved off. The 

 true brand is then apparent, so that all are satisfied. In these 

 round-ups there are always hundreds, and often a few thou- 

 sands, in one bunch. Those that attend these round-ups, if 

 they have many cattle together, take with them two ponies 

 each, blankets for sleeping, and horsefeed. They expect to 

 live in the open air, without shelter, for six weeks. 



On this ranch, if the cattle become thin, they are brought 

 in and fed hay and corn if necessary. The losses of a Winter 



