32 HUNTING TRIPS 



kit. The whole, including perhaps forty or 

 fifty cowboys, is under the head of one first- 

 class foreman, styled the captain of the 

 found-up. Beginning at one end of the line 

 the round-up works along clear to the other. 

 Starting at the head of one creek, the wagons 

 and the herd of spare ponies go down it ten 

 or twelve miles, while the cowboys, divided 

 into small parties scour the neighboring 

 country, covering a great extent of territory, 

 and in the evening come into the appointed 

 place with all the cattle they have seen. This 

 big herd, together with the pony herd, is 

 guarded and watched all night, and driven 

 during the day. At each home-ranch (where 

 there is always a large corral fitted for the 

 purpose) all the cattle of that brand are 

 cut out from the rest of the herd, which is 

 to continue its journey; and the cows and 

 calves are driven into the corral, where the 

 latter are roped, thrown, and branded. In 

 throwing the rope from horseback, the loop, 

 held in the right hand, is swung round and 

 round the head by a motion of the wrist; 



