320 CRUISINGS IN THE CASCADES. 



pressure of his rider's knee, takes a turn on it or 

 gives it slack as may be required to down the beef, 

 and, when this is accomplished, stands stiif-legged, 

 firm, and immovable as a rock, holding him down 

 by the strain on the rope, and watching, with eyes 

 bulged out and ears set forward like those of a jack 

 rabbit, every struggle of the captive bullock, and 

 stands pat even when his rider dismounts and leaves 

 him to brand the steer. When this is done, and his 



"SCARED." 



rider remounts he is ready to repeat the operation 

 on another animal. 



I have frequently known a cowboy to rope a 

 wild cow, throw her and milk her while his horse 

 held her down at the other end of a forty foot 

 rope. Such a horse is worth his weight in gold 

 to a cattleman, and his kind-hearted and appreciative 

 rider would go supperless to bed any night, if nec- 

 essary, in order that his faithful steed should be well 

 fed and made comfortable in every possible way. 



The skill that some of these men attain in the use 

 the lariat is also most marvelous. An expert will 

 catch a steer by the horns, the neck, the right or 



