FRONTIER TYPES 93 



high wages to every individual who combined murderous proclivities with 

 skill in the use of the six-shooter. 



Even in much more quiet regions different outfits vary greatly as 

 regards the character of their employes : I know one or two where the 

 men are good ropers and riders, but a gambling, brawling, hard-drinking 

 set, always shooting each other or strangers. Generally, in such a case, the 

 boss is himself as objectionable as his men ; he is one of those who have 

 risen by unblushing rascality, and is always sharply watched by his neigh- 

 bors, because he is sure to try to shift calves on to his own cows, to 

 brand any blurred animal with his own mark, and perhaps to attempt 

 the alteration of perfectly plain brands. The last operation, however, has 

 become very risky since the organization of the cattle country, and the 

 appointment of trained brand-readers as inspectors. These inspectors 

 examine the hide of every animal slain, sold, or driven off, and it is won- 

 derful to see how quickly one of them will detect any signs of a brand 

 having been tampered with. Now there is, in consequence, very little of 

 this kind of dishonesty ; whereas formerly herds were occasionally stolen 

 almost bodily. 



Claim-jumpers are, as a rule, merely blackmailers. Sometimes they 

 will by threats drive an ignorant foreigner from his claim, but never an old 

 frontiersman. They delight to squat down beside ranchmen who are 

 themselves trying to keep land to which they are not entitled, and who 

 therefore know that their only hope is to bribe or to bully the intruder. 



Cattle-thieves, for the reason given above, are not common, although 

 there are plenty of vicious, shiftless men who will kill a cow or a steer for 

 the meat in winter, if they get a chance. 



Horse-thieves, however, are always numerous and formidable on the 

 frontier; though in our own country they have been summarily thinned 

 out of late years. It is the fashion to laugh at the severity with which 

 horse-stealing is punished on the border, but the reasons are evident. 

 Horses are the most valuable property of the frontiersman, whether cow- 

 boy, hunter, or settler, and are often absolutely essential to his well-being, 

 and even to his life. They are always marketable, and they are very easily 

 stolen, for they carry themselves off, instead of having to be carried. 

 Horse-stealing is thus a most tempting business, especially to the more 

 reckless ruffians, and it is always followed by armed men ; and they can 

 only be kept in check by ruthless severity. Frequently they band 

 together with the road agents (highwaymen) and other desperadoes into 

 secret organizations, which control and terrorize a district until overthrown 

 by force. After the civil war a great many guerrillas, notably from Ar- 



