ODD WAY OF HITCHING 121 



has had quiet, well-behaved broncos all through the outfit. 

 As a rule, the bronk is rough and ready because his master 

 is so ; but gentle treatment has its effect with even him. 

 Broncos become tractable to a degree scarcely known 

 where the demand for steadiness exists less. It is a com- 

 mon habit in some localities, when you want your pony to 

 stand and wait for you, to toss the bridle-rein over his 

 head and let it dangle. Many a pony by this simple de- 

 vice will stand all day and scarcely move from place. It, 

 or an equivalent to it, is very necessary on a plain where 

 there is nothing to hitch to. Moreover, the bronco will 

 face the music in hunting or on the war-path as it is diffi- 

 cult to teach a civilized horse to do. 



Many busters, when they have earned a little money, 

 like to take to quieter pursuits as a rest from the violence 

 of the'ir life. But the instinct comes back again, and a 

 man will go to his old work on slight provocation. A 

 friend of mine who keenly enjoys fun of the cowboy kind 

 told me a good story of the cook of an outfit he was once 

 with when on a mining tour. Jim was a quiet slouch of 

 a fellow, mighty clever over his pots and pans, and the 

 boys lived in clover all winter long ; but he couldn't be 

 got near a pony. He seemed to have a special aversion 

 to anything on four legs unless he could cut it up for the 

 kettle. Finally, in the spring, when the ponies had to be 

 got to work again, there was a deal of talk each day about 

 this or that bronk, and a lot of swearing at the hard work 

 each man would have to do to get the little brutes into 

 order. Jim used to join the circle sometimes after he had 

 washed up, and would sit and watch the pitching, while 

 many a jeer was flung at him because they couldn't get 

 him to take a turn. 



Finally, one day when one of the best of the outfit had 

 tried all his ponies except one piebald, a notorious outlaw, 



