120 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



have been used to rope buffaloes and wild horses. I 

 do not say that they were never made of such materials 

 or used for this purpose, but I have serious doubts about 

 the matter. 



The "Bog Rider." In some parts of the West, espe- 

 cially in the Southwest, where owing to the quicksand 

 the streams are very dangerous, the stockmen are com- 

 pelled to fence up long stretches of the more treacherous 

 spots. This forces cattle to water at points where 

 through rocky ledges coming to the surface or other nat- 

 ural reasons the bottom is more reliable and the ani- 

 mals do not bog. 



When cattle have been without water for long periods 

 they reach the streams famished, and in their eagerness 

 work far out into the stream, meantime slowly sinking 

 into the quicksand. Then when the animal, not any too 

 strong, and burdened with several gallons of water, tries 

 to lift its feet they are fast in the grip of the sand and 

 slowly but surely settling deeper and deeper into it. In 

 ordinary circumstances, if the feet are buried in the sand 

 not more than six inches deep, the animal is unable to 

 release them. The suction that seems to exist under 

 such conditions holds the foot as if in a vise. It was 

 common to see a cow's leg broken where the "bog riders'' 

 (men employed specially to ride the banks of these 

 streams at certain seasons) found the animal with but one 

 foot fast in the sand and tried to pull her out with their 

 ropes, without first digging the foot free clear to the very 

 toes. On a good square pull it was impossible for a 

 strong horse to pull a cow out of such a position where 

 two feet were fast in the sand up to the knees until they 

 had been dug clear out. With but one foot fast and 

 buried not much over the hoof, a strong man with a rope 

 fastened about the animal's leg is often unable to lift the 



