PUBLISHER'S PREFACE 



"And thou shall smite the rock, and there shall 

 come luater out of it, that the people may drink." 



IN the opening paragraph of the first chapter of 

 this volume the author intimates that we "may" 

 not have known that we were to unloose a flood when 

 we asked him originally to write of his experiences 

 in connection with the rise and progress of the west- 

 ern cattle trade. In response I will simply say that 

 we have known Frank Hastings for full thirty 

 years. We thought we knew him well, but we now 

 find that he has gifts not hitherto suspected. 



Originally brought out in the columns of The 

 Breeder's Gazette, these sketches attracted at once 

 and held the close attention of thousands of delighted 

 readers in every part of the country. In soliciting 

 their preparation we approached the subject with the 

 same confidence that the Prophet of old smote with 

 his rod the rock of Horeb ; but I must here and now 

 confess that the stream of thought called forth sur- 

 passed in purity and sweetness anything anticipated. 



Mr. Hastings has made a real contribution to 

 the pastoral literature of the West; one vitalized 

 throughout by an intensely human touch. We count 

 ourselves fortunate in having the privilege of giving 

 his work this permanent form. 



Alvin H. Sanders. 



[vii] 



