OUT ON THE RANGE 



busters," can perform really marvelous feats, riding with ease the most 

 vicious and unbroken beasts, that no ordinary cowboy would dare to 

 tackle. Although sitting seemingly so loose in the saddle, such a rider 

 cannot be jarred out of it by the wildest plunges, it being a favorite feat 



to sit out the antics of a buck- 

 ing horse with silver half-dollars 

 under each knee or in the stirrups 

 under each foot. But their method 

 of breaking is very rough, consist- 



PULLING A COW OUT OF THE MUD. 



ing only in saddling and bridling 

 a beast by main force and then 

 riding him, also by main force, 

 until he is exhausted, when he is 

 turned over as "broken." Later 

 on the cowboy himself may train 

 his horse to stop or wheel instantly at a touch of the reins or bit, to start at 

 top speed at a signal, and to stand motionless when left. An intelligent 

 pony soon picks up a good deal of knowledge about the cow business on 

 his own account. 



All cattle are branded, usually on the hip, shoulder, and side, or on 

 any one of them, with letters, numbers, or figures, in every combination, 

 the outfit being known by its brand. Near me, for instance, are the Three 

 Sevens, the Thistle, the Bellows, the OX, the VI., the Seventy-six Bar 

 (— ), and the Quarter Circle Diamond (^) outfits. The dew-lap and the 

 ears may also be cut, notched, or slit. All brands are registered, and are 

 thus protected against imitators, any man tampering with them being 

 punished as severely as possible. Unbranded animals are called niavci'icks, 



