Redskin and Cow-Boy

in the night-guarding of the cattle, and found it fascinating work. He and Broncho Harry generally worked together. The first watch was preferred, bec

or a time the cattle would go on feeding, then gradually they would lie down, until perhaps all but five or six were on the ground. At this time, however, the sl

themselves that their work was done. Then one of the cattle lying outside would leap to his feet with a snort, alarmed, perhaps, by the sudden scamper of an inquisitive jack-rabbit, which, having come up to examine what was going on, had fled at the approach of one of the cow-boys. With a loud snor

spread, and in a short time the whole mass be circling, or, as the cow-boys call it, weaving. As this action, unless checked, always terminated in a general stampede, the duty of the cow-boys was at once to check it. This could onl

each flank, gallop at the top of their speed to head the animals back. As soon as they came near the head of the herd they would yell and shout at the top of their voices, sometimes discharging their pistols in the air, pressing the animals on the flank gradually inward, and so checking the

red over the country, it might take many days of hard work before they could again be got together. If the night set in wild, so as to render it probable that the cattle would stampede, a third man was placed on the guard. He would aid in keeping them in as long as possible; but if they broke the circle

ion of the air seeming to affect them. They might lie down, but it was only to rise again, and the distant roll of the thunder seemed to be answered by their restless bellowing. On such a night it needed no message to the camp to bring up help. As the storm approached, and it became evident by the brightness and rapidity of the flashes that it

s. The thunder was continuous, and so terrible were some of these storms that Hugh felt grateful to the animals that the trouble they gave, and the incessant efforts and activity required to restrain them, diverted his attention from the terrible war of elements overhead. On such a

less dangerous than upon a dark, still night, for the lightning flashes showed not only the exact position of the herd, but greatly diminished the chance of serious falls by lighting up the whole configuration of the country, and showing any obstacles in

uently in his saddle eighteen hours a day, occasionally twenty, and four or even five horses would be thoroughly done up before his work was over. Had they been fed with grain a smaller number might have s

ve in all the cattle met with on their way. At last they reached the stream near whose banks the vast herds driven in from all quarters were gathered. There had been an occasional day's halt on the way to giv

rived. Some had probably come up days before, perhaps weeks; others would not be there for some time; all depended upon the nature of the country to be worked and the distance traversed. There were several other outfits scattered along the banks of the stream above and below them at distances of about half a mile apart, and the overs

ny other, and though the cow-boy knows that if he does not comply with the request he has got to ride back to the headquarters station and get his money, he does not feel his dignity injured as it would be by a direct order. There are no men more independent than cow-boys. They know their value; and a really good man knows, and this was more especially th

nd-up. The waggon is going to stay here till our herd is called up. There are men from the other outfits there; the boss is there, and he will settle about things. Tw

n our other horses?

are cut out and branded. No. 3 will take the next mob. An

, and proceeded to call

up and strapped to the saddles, and the five men chosen, after eating a hasty

oyce, who had got the nickname of Chunky from his

best to hook you. Thar ain't a day that some fellow don't get hurt; but as long as you don't let a cow jam you against the posts it don't much matter. That is what you have got to look to s

am. Horsemen were hovering round them, and there was a confused mass of animals in what looked to Hugh like a strong stockade near it. A short distance away twelve waggons were drawn up in regular order some fi

apt from his horse, to a negro who, with a

Bronch

he boys, and

corral. "Some of dem is working in de herd; some of dem is inside. Irish i

ete. How did h

right through him body. Iri

oys down from the othe

ornin'. Now you come dat make fifteen, and all ou

ne to help you, Pete, so

of much account. Between the men of these two races there was a general feud, while the cow-boys look

e our hor

, pointing to a group of horses out on t

" Broncho Harry said, turning to the others. "It is no

others removed their saddles and bridles, and

y of about fifteen years old who was lying on the

and getting pretty tired of this job, you bet, with not

school, you young

boy said. "It will be all right when I get to be a cow

es

s with

ave th

sort," the boy said. "The o

ll them so," Hugh

the boy said angrily. "You don't suppo

h assumed gravity, "a very dangerous character in a

don't do me any," the boy said, "bu

ined the four horses, which began to graze at a little distance from the rest. Presently two or three of the other horses came over to the new-comers, and after a little snorting

erally regarded with favour by the outfits to which they were attached, for the cow-boys as a rule are silent men, and the liveliness of the boys amused them. These boys generally grew up into the most reckless and dare-devil of cow-boys, speedily

gons. They had been working without a break since daylight, contenting themselves with

ave had a week of it, and it has been a pretty tough job. The cattle are wonderful wild. I suppose the thunder has scared

signs of them in th

, and we hear they have been making raids down into Mexico, and the troops have been out after them down by the fronti

ave been talking to Irish. H

ght that New York John would have known better than to get himself hooked like that; but it were not altogether his fault. He wur holding a calf, and he had his eye on the old cow, who had got her dander up pretty considerable. One of the men had roped her, and N

n must be a fool and worse to come do

t, in course, no one knew. The men were mad over it, and ef they could have found out who had done it he would have swung from the limb of a tree in a squirrel's jump. There were two or three men who had had musses with the chap as the rope belonged to, but no

e work for

o be in the yard. We have got a spell off, except, of cour

are ther

t some of us will start driving t

x feet high, placed at intervals of two or three inches apart. It had been built three or four years before, as this place was the most convenient and central upon the plains. A few waggon loads of timber had been taken out there a fortnight befo

p consisting of representatives of four or five different ranches. In a short time a great herd was seen approaching, driven in by a number of mounted cow-boys. The cross-bars were removed from the opening that served as a gate at the upper end of the yard, and th

CALVES AT T

thrown, and the calves were dragged out, struggling and calling, or, as the cow-boys called it, bawling, to their mothers for assistance. The call was not in vain. The cows rushed out furiously to the assistance of their calves. As each did so the cow-boy whose comrade was

y main force towards the fire, and held the rope while Hugh ran up to it. Placing himself beside it he leaned over it, grasped it by the flank with both hands, and then lifted it and flung it down on its side. His comrade then ran up and pinne

ears getting torn by a rush through thorns, or by the action of a neighbour's horn in a close press or during a stampede. It required but small exercise of strength to throw a calf of three months old; but many of them were eight or nine months and nearly full grown, and it needed a great exertion of strength and a good deal of k

b was admitted from the herd. So the work went on until the herd had all passed through the yard, and the calves been branded. Then there was a quarter of an hour's rest while another herd was driven up, and the work recommenced. By nightfall some nine thous

o Harry asked Hugh when he th

been beaten to a pulp. I believe I have strained every muscle of my ar

he cow-boy said. "It is knack more than strength, though it needs a lot of

over six months I had to have roped by the legs and throw

so far obliterated that it was difficult to decide what they had originally been. Over these brands there were sharp and sometimes angry disputes among the cow-boys belonging to the different ranches. The case was generally settled by the overseer in charge o

ar gone as to make it altogether impos

it just as if it had been a maverick. But in that case, of course, any cow-boy could claim the cow as belonging to his ranche if he co

day of rest, cow-boys taking the opportunity to wash and mend their clothes, to practise shooting with their revolvers, or to run races with their horses. At rounds-up these races afford

of yours against anything fast,

ery fast, but I have n

raced him against some of the others, and have found out what he can do, and then w

tter ride him instead of me. I shouldn't say

We don't reckon that way out here. I was a hundred and th

m certainly twenty pounds heavier-I should say

e of yours. I mean the one you first mounted and who played such tricks with you. I should like some day to

you run your rac

s made for some distance. Well, when we have had dinner we will trot out into the plain. We must

own horse. They then put on the saddles and bridles which they had brought with them, and went off at a canter across the plains. They ran three or four trials. The result showed that Broncho's horse was q

money out of him. Well, now, we won't race him this evening. There are sure to be some matches on, and I will ride my horse. That way I shall find what there is in the camp, and whether there is anything that can beat him as much as your horse can do. Don't you go cavorting about on him; just let him run with t

beat two other horses, but lost his winnings and more in the third race, when he was beate

I ought to have known that when that cross T's man offered to back that ugly-looking brute against mine, he wur a sight better than he looked. He just shot off like an arrow at starting. I

he stock-yards was resumed and