Locating a Homestead 



" You're welcome ; been in the same fix many 



ia time myself," said he, and went off to his wagon. 



S Silently we led our team back to our wagon, 



where, as we hitched up, I gave Tom his first 



lesson in that simple operation. 



Once on our way again, I explained to my 

 comrade that, taught by their experience on the 

 ranches, oxen usually have a respect for a man 

 on horseback which they seem to lack for one on 

 foot. I also said, " We must buy a tethering- 

 chain at the first opportunity, and also get some 

 wire and fence in a small pasture on our home- 

 steads, with a corral to enable us to easily keep 

 and catch the bulls when wanted, as for want of 

 these precautions settlers often lose a lot of valuable 

 time hunting for and catching strayed oxen." 



*' Don't they hobble them ? " asked Tom. 



" Some do," said I; " but hobbles are not very 

 efficient, and they are dangerous too, as an ox 

 may break its leg if it gets in a boggy slough ; 

 and the same applies to tethering-chains." 



Towards nightfall we arrived at the town of 



M , and putting our team into the livery 



barn, repaired to the hotel, fortunately in time 

 for supper, for meals are not often served out- 

 side the usual hours, and unless the town is a 

 considerable one there is no restaurant. 



The following morning, as oiu* road would 



49 J> 



