36 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



them, but they soon recognize them alL AVe once yoked up 

 and were ready to start in five minutes. Sometimes the lasso 

 would have to be used to catch the wild Texas oxen, but they 

 soon were so broken down that they were all tame enough. 



Each man furnished himself from the " outfit " house with 

 woolen blankets, clothing and, if he could afford it, a gum 

 blanket or overcoat. The company furnished him with a rifle, 

 revolver and ammunition, which were not given out until we 

 arrived among hostile Indians. I am thankful to add that we 

 never had an excuse to use these for the purpose intended, 

 although a party of hostiles alarmed us one night by coming 

 within a few hundred yards of us and giving some defiant 

 war-whoops. It was so dark we could not see them, and in 

 the morning there was no trace of them, and I was mighty 

 glad of it. 



We are now ready to start. Each driver with a cruel whip 

 stands by the side of his wheelers, while the wagon-master 

 and " extras," mounted on mules or horses, revolver at belt 

 and clattering spur at heel, are grouped by the leading wagon. 

 The command of '' Eoll on " is given, and one after the other 

 the wagons start out and the train is in motion, crawling like 

 a Saurian monster over the prairie. What a half hour ago 

 was a white circle, as silent as death, is now resonant with 

 shouts and oaths and, uncoiled, is leaving its resting place far 

 behind. 



The best teams in the train were the first and fourteenth, 

 which alternated in leading. Being picked cattle and having 

 no heavier loads to haul than the poor ones, they generally 

 made a good appearance, so that our line of march was always 

 best foot foremost. 



When in a timber country the breaking of an axle or tongue 

 did not much disconcert us, as we could replace them. But 

 when we got out of the hard-wood region along the Platte, it 

 was different. Then we would abandon the broken wagon 



