Locating a Homestead 



they dig four holes some eighteen inches square 

 about six feet distant from each other, and 

 placed north, south, east and west of the corner 

 point. At the north-east corner of each sec- 

 tion they also leave an iron bar on which are 

 cut certain marks. Now, as the country is plotted 

 out in townships, as they are called, of six 

 miles square, each numbered consecutively from 

 south to north, and also numbered as ranges 

 from east to west, and each square mile or sec- 

 tion, as it is called, in a township is also num- 

 bered, a given one should be found with compara- 

 tive ease — at least in theory ; but the marked 

 iron bars are apt to get removed — sometimes, it 

 is said maliciously, by ranchers who do not want 

 settlers. In places also the scrub grows over 

 the marks and they become difficult to find. 

 With Bob's help, however, we succeeded in locat- 

 ing the corners of this quarter, and also satisfied 

 ourselves that there was still timber near at 

 hand that would do for a log shack, fence-posts, 

 and firewood. 



The sun was now rapidly setting, but Bob's 

 mustang pony, with her head once turned home- 

 ward, threading her way through scrub and 

 between badger-holes and stones, from the two 

 latter of which we got some bumping, soon 

 brought us to her home. 



6i 



h. 



