338 CRUIS1NGS IN THE CASCADES 



on the prairies as food for the coyotes, or has orna- 

 mented the nearest cotton wood tree until the mag- 

 pies and butcher birds have polished his bones. 



Branding is a decidedly cruel proceeding, and 

 would doubtless come under the bane of Mr. Bergh's 

 displeasure were he here to witness it. Yet it seems 

 a necessary evil, there being no other known means 

 of marking cattle so effectually and indelibly. 



Parties of ladies frequently go out from the towns 

 or cities to see the roundup, not knowing or think- 

 ing of the painful features of it. They enjoy the 

 ride across the prairies and through the valleys. The 

 beautiful scenery, the grotesque "Bad Lands," the 

 red, scoria -capped hills, the beautiful green meadows, 

 and the fringes of green trees that mark the mean- 

 derings of the streams, all delight and interest 

 them; they enjoy the displays of horsemanship given 

 by the valorous cowboys as they wheel and cavort 

 hither and thither in pursuit of scurrying bands of 

 cattle; they enjoy the stampeding and wild flight, 

 the "knotting" and "holding" of the large herds, 

 all so skillfully and cleverly performed; they enjoy 

 the sight of the thousand and more loose horses, 

 grazing and scampering over the plains; they enjoy 

 the fresh, pure air, the wholesome noon repast in 

 the shade of the great cottonwood trees, and many 

 other pleasant phases of the affair. But when the 

 fire is lit and the murderous irons inserted in it; 

 when the captive creatures are dragged forth lowing, 

 murmuring, and bellowing; when the red-hot iron is 

 pressed into their quivering, smoking sides until the 

 air is laden with the odor of burning hair and roast- 

 ing flesh, and the poor creature writhes and strug- 



