296 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



This particular round-up was a Pick affair pure 

 and simple, as other large cattle-owners were then not 

 numerous in that district. As range cattle became 

 more plentiful, and the number of different owners 

 and different brands increased, the spring and autumn 

 round-ups became joint affairs, more elaborately 

 organized. They were duly advertised for each 

 district under selected foremen, and each company 

 or owner sent a boy or two to each round-up in the 

 districts where his cattle by any possibility might 

 range. The round-up of which I am now concerned 

 to write was a more amateur, single- company business, 

 and rendered all the more so by the unfortunate shoot- 

 ing episode already described, which compelled the 

 active assistance of our hunting-party. 



Nevertheless, our work was satisfactorily accom- 

 plished. To every man was allotted his task. Bill 

 Savage, our cook, was provided with a round-up 

 waggon and cooking outfit of the most approved 

 description, and roast beef, plum duff, dried fruits, and 

 tea and coffee, kept the boys in good humour and 

 condition. The weak part of western cookery, to 

 my mind, is always the bacon. Where the gruesome 

 article comes from, that out west is called, by 

 courtesy, bacon, and what it is made of, are mysteries 

 that I have never desired to solve. It is an economical 

 and exceedingly satisfying food, a small portion of 

 which goes further, and lingers longer on the palate, 

 than any kind of pig's flesh I have ever partaken of. 



Another important personage of our round-up party 

 was the horse-wrangler. It was his duty to herd the 

 spare horses and bring them up to camp in the morn- 

 ing and at mid-day for the riders to lasso their respective 

 mounts. He had an able lieutenant in the person of 



