OF A RANCHMAN 21 



carved, the spurs, bit, and revolver silver- 

 mounted, the shaps of seal-skin, etc. The 

 revolver was formerly a necessity, to protect 

 the owner from Indians and other human 

 foes ; this is still the case in a few places, but, 

 as a rule, it is now carried merely from habit, 

 or to kill rattlesnakes, or on the chance of 

 falling in with a wolf or coyote, while not 

 unfrequently it is used to add game to the 

 cowboy's not too varied bill of fare. 



A cowboy is always a good and bold rider, 

 but his seat in the saddle is not at all lik$ that 

 of one of our eastern or southern fox-hunt- 

 ers. The stirrups are so long that the man 

 stands almost erect in them, from his head 

 to his feet being a nearly straight line. It is 

 difficult to compare the horsemanship of a 

 western plainsman with that of an eastern 

 or southern cross-country rider. In follow- 

 ing hounds over fences and high walls, on a 

 spirited horse needing very careful humor- 

 ing, the latter would certainly excel ; but he 

 would find it hard work to sit a bucking 

 horse like a cowboy, or to imitate the head- 



