OF A RANCHMAN 61 



handy as any, stands very rough usage, and 

 is unapproachable for the rapidity of its fire 

 and the facility with which it is loaded. 



Of course every ranchman carries a re- 

 volver, a long 45 Colt or Smith & Wesson, 

 by preference the former. When after game 

 a hunting-knife is stuck in the girdle. This 

 should be stout and sharp, but not too long, 



with a round handle. I have two double- 







barrelled shot-guns: a No. 10 choke-bore 

 for ducks and geese, made by Thomas of 

 Chicago; and a No. 16 hammerless, built 

 for me by Kennedy of St. Paul, for grouse 

 and plover. On regular hunting trips I al- 

 ways carry the Winchester rifle ; but in rid- 

 ing round near home, where a man may see 

 a deer and is sure to come across ducks and 

 grouse, it is best to take the little ranch gun, 

 a double-barrel No. 16, with a 4070 rifle 

 underneath the shot-gun barrels. 



As for clothing, when only off on a day's 

 trip, the ordinary ranchman's dress is good 

 enough: flannel shirt, and overalls tucked 

 into alligator boots, the latter being of serv- 



