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ge 
205 
“OOM AIISZI AY, ZHEO 
ing ’—which I discovered to mean one 
that had hitherto escaped the iron, or 
that had changed owners—throw a rope 
over its head or horns, fasten the other 
end to the pommel, and drag it to the 
fire, where it was thrown and tied. 
Then it was seized by several men who 
sat on its head and legs to hold it com- 
paratively still while another took the 
hot brand from the fire and pressed it 
against the quivering side of the animal. 
It was then released and, bawling with 
pain and fright, allowed to return to its 
mother, who had been kept off by an- 
other rider. A sound at my side in- 
formed me that the little old maid was 
weeping copiously. 
It is a pity I could not have had the 
cowboy’s point of view, for mine was 
most unpleasant, but my little glimpse 
of the other side was gone, and gladly 
