THE HOME RANCH 



29 



in the quicksand of a creek so narrow that it could ahnost be jumped. 

 An alkah-hole, where the water oozes out through the thick clay, is the 

 worst of all, owing to the ropy tenacity with which the horrible substance 

 sticks and clings to any unfortunate beast that gets into it. 



In the spring these mud-holes cause very serious losses among the 

 cattle, and are at all times fruitful sources of danger ; indeed, during an 



nemmtlhifi- 



ROPING IN A HORSE-COKKAL. 



ordinary year more cattle die from getting mired than from any other 

 cause. In addition to this they also often prove very annoying to the 

 rider himself, as getting his steed mired or caught in a quicksand is one 

 of the commonest of the accidents that beset a horseman in the far West. 

 This usually happens in fording a river, if the latter is at all high, or else 

 in crossing one of the numerous creeks ; although I once saw a horse and 

 rider suddenly engulfed while leisurely walking over what appeared to be 

 dry land. They had come to an alkali mud-hole, an old buffalo-wallow, 

 which had filled up and was covered with a sun-baked crust, that let them 

 through as if they had stepped on a trap-door. There being several of 

 us along, we got down our ropes and dragged both unfortunates out in 

 short order. 



