298 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



Eventually these latter are turned loose, as well as the 

 cows and calves when the latter have been branded 

 and ear-marked ; while the beef cattle, along with 

 those previously gathered, are kept under permanent 

 guard, as already stated. 



This brings me to the episode of a night stampede. 

 I have often marvelled at the exceeding stupidity 

 of range steers. It is past all belief. These animals 

 are at times the most senseless of created things. 

 He who drives fat oxen, says the proverb, should 

 himself be fat. But this adage certainly does not 

 apply to the western cattle business. I never yet saw a 

 fat cow-puncher, particularly among those told off for 

 night-herding, and I doubt if such a monstrosity ever 

 existed. Once a beef herd is startled at night, no 

 power on earth can stop them for a space. They will 

 stampede headlong in any direction, and the only 

 thing to be done is to ride equally headlong with 

 them, and keep them together until they are tired 

 enough to stop. 



I have known a herd of steers swim round and 

 round in the centre of the North Platte River, float- 

 ing down with the current meantime for a mile or 

 more. I have seen our whole party expend an hour 

 and much profanity in endeavouring to wheedle our 

 beef herd into a convenient corral at supper-time in 

 order to avoid a night's herding in the open ; while 

 only those who have tried it can understand the loss 

 of time and temper involved in putting a few hundred 

 beef cattle into a train of cars within a strictly limited 

 period of time under a blazing western sun. 



I have also assisted in endeavouring to control a 

 night stampede of our beef herd, and I shall not 

 readily forget the experience. This particular stam- 



