64 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



ments you may possess, or put on side, for it never 

 goes down on a round-up, or anywhere else, for 

 that matter. Just do the particular task that may 

 be assigned to you by the captain, without question 

 or comment, and to the best of your ability. 



The new hand is nearly always put on to horse- 

 wrangling or cattle-herding to start with, as it is 

 the simplest work, although the least congenial, the 

 older and more experienced ones being sent round 

 the country in twos (as a rule) to hunt up and bring 

 in any horses or cattle (as the case may be) which 

 they may find on their circuit. 



At about 4.30 a.m. the herder takes the horses 

 out on to the plain a little way from camp, staying 

 with them and keeping them together (but not too 

 close) by riding round and round them until noon, 

 when he is relieved for half an hour for dinner. He 

 then goes on again from 12.30 until six or seven, 

 when the night-herder (or two herders, if the horses 

 are fresh) undertakes the care of them until the 

 early hours of the morning. (And a monotonous 

 task it is, too !) 



Very early in the morning the cook prepares 

 breakfast, which is despatched quickly, and the 

 work of the day begins. The saddle-horses are 

 driven into an improvised corral, consisting of a 

 long rope made fast to the waggon at each end, 



