第16章

Inthosedaysonacowranchthemenwereapttobeawayonthevariousround-upsatleasthalfthetime。Itwasinterestingandexcitingwork，andexceptforthelackofsleeponthespringandsummerround-upsitwasnotexhaustingwork；comparedtolumberingorminingorblacksmithing，tositinthesaddleisaneasyformoflabor。Theponieswereofcoursegrass-fedandunshod。Eachmanhadhisownstringofnineorten。Oneponywouldbeusedforthemorningwork，onefortheafternoon，andneitherwouldagainbeusedforthenextthreedays。Aseparateponywaskeptfornightriding。

Thespringandearlysummerround-upswereespeciallyforthebrandingofcalves。Therewasmuchhardworkandsomeriskonaround-up，butalsomuchfun。Themeeting-placewasappointedweeksbeforehand，andalltheranchmenoftheterritorytobecoveredbytheround-upsenttheirrepresentatives。TherewerenofencesintheWestthatIknew，andtheirplacewastakenbythecowboyandthebranding-iron。Thecattlewanderedfree。Eachcalfwasbrandedwiththebrandofthecowitwasfollowing。Sometimesinwintertherewaswhatwecalledlineriding；thatis，campswereestablishedandthelineriderstraveledadefinitebeatacrossthedesolatewastesofsnow，toandfrofromonecamptoanother，topreventthecattlefromdrifting。Butasarulenothingwasdonetokeepthecattleinanyoneplace。Inthespringtherewasageneralround-upineachlocality。Eachoutfittookpartinitsownround-up，andalltheoutfitsofagivenregioncombinedtosendrepresentativestothetwoorthreeround-upsthatcoveredtheneighborhoodsnearbyintowhichtheircattlemightdrift。Forexample，ourLittleMissouriround-upgenerallyworkeddowntheriverfromadistanceofsomefiftyorsixtymilesabovemyranchtowardtheKildeerMountains，aboutthesamedistancebelow。InadditionwewouldusuallysendrepresentativestotheYellowstoneround-up，andtotheround-upalongtheupperLittleMissouri；and，moreover，ifweheardthatcattlehaddrifted，perhapstowardtheIndianreservationsoutheastofus，wewouldsendawagonandriderafterthem。

Atthemeeting-point，whichmightbeinthevalleyofahalf-drystream，orinsomebroadbottomoftheriveritself，orperchancebyacoupleofpondsundersomequeerlyshapedbuttethatwasalandmarkfortheregionroundabout，wewouldallgatherontheappointedday。

Thechuck-wagons，containingthebeddingandfood，eachdrawnbyfourhorsesanddrivenbytheteamstercook，wouldcomejoltingandrattlingovertheunevensward。Accompanyingeachwagonwereeightortenriders，thecow-punchers，whiletheirhorses，abandofahundredorso，weredrivenbythetwoherders，oneofwhomwasknownasthedaywranglerandoneasthenightwrangler。Themenwerelean，sinewyfellows，accustomedtoridinghalf-brokenhorsesatanyspeedoveranycountrybydayorbynight。Theyworeflannelshirts，withloosehandkerchiefsknottedroundtheirnecks，broadhats，high-heeledbootswithjinglingspurs，andsometimesleathershaps，althoughoftentheymerelyhadtheirtrouserstuckedintothetopsoftheirhighboots。

Therewasagooddealofroughhorse-play，and，aswithanyothergatheringofmenorboysofhighanimalspirits，thehorse-playsometimesbecameveryroughindeed；andasthemenusuallycarriedrevolvers，andastherewereoccasionallyoneortwonotedgun-

fightersamongthem，therewasnowandthenashootingaffray。Amanwhowasacowardorwhoshirkedhisworkhadabadtime，ofcourse；amancouldnotaffordtolethimselfbebulliedortreatedasabutt；

and，ontheotherhand，ifhewas“lookingforafight。”hewascertaintofindit。Butmyownexperiencewasthatifamandidnottalkuntilhisassociatesknewhimwellandlikedhim，andifhedidhiswork，heneverhadanydifficultyingettingon。Inmyownround-

updistrictIspeedilygrewtobefriendswithmostofthemen。WhenI

wentamongstrangersIalwayshadtospendtwenty-fourhoursinlivingdownthefactthatIworespectacles，remainingaslongasIcouldjudiciouslydeaftoanysideremarksabout“foureyes。”unlessitbecameevidentthatmybeingquietwasmisconstruedandthatitwasbettertobringmatterstoaheadatonce。

If，forinstance，IwassentofftorepresenttheLittleMissouribrandsonsomeneighboringround-up，suchastheYellowstone，I

usuallyshowedthatkindofdiplomacywhichconsistsinnotutteringonewordthatcanbeavoided。Iwouldprobablyhaveacoupleofdays’

solitaryride，mountedononehorseanddrivingeightortenothersbeforeme，oneofthemcarryingmybedding。Loosehorsesdrivebestatatrot，orcanter，andifamanistravelingaloneinthisfashionitisagoodthingtohavethemreachthecampgroundsufficientlylatetomakethemdesiretofeedandsleepwheretheyareuntilmorning。InconsequenceIneverspentmorethantwodaysonthejourneyfromwhateverthepointwasatwhichIlefttheLittleMissouri，sleepingtheonenightforaslimitedanumberofhoursaspossible。

AssoonasIreachedthemeeting-placeIwouldfindoutthewagontowhichIwasassigned。Ridingtoit，Iturnedmyhorsesintothesaddle-bandandreportedtothewagonboss，or，inhisabsence，tothecook——alwaysaprivilegedcharacter，whowasallowedandexpectedtoordermenaround。Hewouldusuallygrumblesavagelyandprofanelyaboutmyhavingbeenputwithhiswagon，butthiswasmerelyconventionalonhispart；andifIsatdownandsaidnothinghewouldprobablysoonaskmeifIwantedanythingtoeat，towhichthecorrectanswerwasthatIwasnothungryandwouldwaituntilmeal-time。Thebeddingrollsoftheriderswouldbestrewnroundthegrass，andI

wouldputminedownalittleoutsidethering，whereIwouldnotbeinanyone’sway，withmysixoreightbranding-ironsbesideit。Themenwouldridein，laughingandtalkingwithoneanother，andperhapsnoddingtome。Oneoftheirnumber，usuallythewagonforeman，mightputsomequestiontomeastowhatbrandsIrepresented，butnootherwordwouldbeaddressedtome，norwouldIbeexpectedtovolunteeranyconversation。Supperwouldconsistofbacon，Dutchovenbread，andpossiblybeef；onceIwonthegoodgracesofmycompanionsattheoutsetbyappearingwithtwoantelopewhichIhadshot。AftersupperI

wouldrollupinmybeddingassoonaspossible，andtheotherswouldfollowsuitattheirpleasure。

Atthreeinthemorningorthereabouts，atayellfromthecook，allhandswouldturnhurriedlyout。Dressingwasasimpleaffair。Theneachmanrolledandcordedhisbedding——ifhedidnot，thecookwouldleaveitbehindandhewouldgowithoutanyfortherestofthetrip——

andcametothefire，wherehepickedoutatincup，tinplate，andknifeandfork，helpedhimselftocoffeeandtowhateverfoodtherewas，andateitstandingorsquattingasbestsuitedhim。Dawnwasprobablybreakingbythistime，andthetramplingofunshodhoofsshowedthatthenightwranglerwasbringingintheponyherd。Twoofthemenwouldthenrunropesfromthewagonatrightanglestooneanother，andintothisasacorralthehorseswouldbedriven。Eachmanmightropeoneofhisownhorses，ormoreoftenpointitouttothemostskillfulroperoftheoutfit，whowouldropeitforhim——forifthemanwasanunskillfulroperandropedthewronghorseorropedthehorseinthewrongplacetherewasachanceofthewholeherdstampeding。Eachmanthensaddledandbridledhishorse。Thiswasusuallyfollowedbysomeresolutebuckingonthepartoftwoorthreeofthehorses，especiallyintheearlydaysofeachround-up。Thebuckingwasalwaysasourceofamusementtoallthemenwhosehorsesdidnotbuck，andthesefortunateoneswouldgatherroundgivingironicaladvice，andespeciallyadjuringtheridernotto“gotoleather“——thatis，nottosteadyhimselfinthesaddlebycatchingholdofthesaddle-horn。

Assoonasthemenhadmounted，thewholeoutfitstartedonthelongcircle，themorningcircle。Usuallytheranchforemanwhobossedagivenwagonwasputinchargeofthemenofonegroupbytheround-upforeman；hemightkeephismentogetheruntiltheyhadgonesometenorfifteenmilesfromcamp，andthendropthemincouplesatdifferentpoints。Eachcouplemadeitswaytowardthewagon，gatheringallthecattleitcouldfind。Themorning’sridemightlastsixoreighthours，anditwasstilllongerbeforesomeofthemengotin。Singlyandintwosandthreestheyappearedfromeveryquarterofthehorizon，thedustrisingfromthehoofsofthesteersandbulls，thecowsandcalves，theyhadcollected。Twoorthreeofthemenwerelefttotakecareoftheherdwhiletheotherschangedhorses，ateahastydinner，andthencameouttotheafternoonwork。Thisconsistedofeachmaninsuccessionbeingsentintotheherd，usuallywithacompanion，tocutoutthecowsofhisbrandorbrandswhichwerefollowedbyunbrandedcalves，andalsotocutoutanymavericksorunbrandedyearlings。Weworkedeachanimalgentlyouttotheedgeoftheherd，andthenwithasuddendashtookitoffatarun。Itwasalwaysdesperatelyanxioustobreakbackandrejointheherd。Therewasmuchbreakneckgallopingandtwistingandturningbeforeitsdesirewasthwartedanditwasdriventojointherestofthecut——

thatis，theotheranimalswhichhadbeencutout，andwhichwerebeingheldbyoneortwoothermen。Cattlehatebeingalone，anditwasnoeasymattertoholdthefirstoneortwothatwerecutout；butsoontheygotalittleherdoftheirown，andthentheywerecontented。Whenthecuttingouthadallbeendone，thecalveswerebranded，andallmisadventuresofthe“calfwrestlers。”themenwhoseized，threw，andheldeachcalfwhenropedbythemountedroper，werehailedwithyellinglaughter。Thentheanimalswhichforonereasonoranotheritwasdesiredtodrivealongwiththeround-upwereputintooneherdandleftinchargeofacoupleofnightguards，andtherestofuswouldloafbacktothewagonforsupperandbed。

BythistimeIwouldhavebeenacceptedasoneoftherestoftheoutfit，andallstrangenesswouldhavepassedoff，theattitudeofmyfellowcow-punchersbeingoneoffriendlyforgivenesseventowardmyspectacles。Nightguardsforthecattleherdwerethenassignedbythecaptainofthewagon，orperhapsbytheround-upforeman，accordingtotheneedsofthecase，theguardsstandingfortwohoursatatimefromeightintheeveningtillfourinthemorning。Thefirstandlastwatcheswerepreferable，becausesleepwasnotbrokenasinbothoftheothertwo。Ifthingswentwell，thecattlewouldsoonbeddownandnothingfurtherwouldoccuruntilmorning，whentherewasarepetitionofthework，thewagonmovingeachdayeightortenmilestosomeappointedcamping-place。

Eachmanwouldpickethisnighthorsenearthewagon，usuallychoosingthequietestanimalinhisstringforthatpurpose，becausetosaddleandmounta“mean“horseatnightisnotpleasant。Whenutterlytired，itwashardtohavetogetupforone’strickatnightherd。

Nevertheless，onordinarynightsthetwohoursroundthecattleinthestilldarknesswerepleasant。Theloneliness，underthevastemptysky，andthesilence，inwhichthebreathingofthecattlesoundedloud，andthealertreadinesstomeetanyemergencywhichmightsuddenlyariseoutoftheformlessnight，allcombinedtogiveoneasenseofsubduedinterest。Then，onesoongottoknowthecattleofmarkedindividuality，theonesthatledtheothersintomischief；andonealsogrewtorecognizethetraitstheyallpossessedincommon，andtheimpulseswhich，forinstance，madeawholeherdgetuptowardsmidnight，eachbeastturningroundandthenlyingdownagain。Butbytheendofthewatcheachriderhadstudiedthecattleuntilitgrewmonotonous，andheartilywelcomedhisreliefguard。Anewcomer，ofcourse，hadanyamounttolearn，andsometimesthesimplestthingswerethosewhichbroughthimtogrief。

OnenightearlyinmycareerIfailedsatisfactorilytoidentifythedirectioninwhichIwastogoinordertoreachthenightherd。Itwasapitch-darknight。Imanagedtogetstartedwrong，andIneverfoundeithertheherdorthewagonagainuntilsunrise，whenIwasgreetedwithwitheringscornbytheinjuredcow-puncher，whohadbeenobligedtostanddoubleguardbecauseIfailedtorelievehim。

TherewereothermisadventuresthatImetwithwheretheexcusewasgreater。Thepunchersonnightguardusuallyroderoundthecattleinreversedirections；callingandsingingtothemifthebeastsseemedrestless，tokeepthemquiet。Onrareoccasionssomethinghappenedthatmadethecattlestampede，andthenthedutyoftheriderswastokeepwiththemaslongaspossibleandtrygraduallytogetcontrolofthem。

Onenighttherewasaheavystorm，andallofuswhowereatthewagonswereobligedtoturnouthastilytohelpthenightherders。

Afterawhiletherewasaterrificpealofthunder，thelightningstruckrightbytheherd，andawayallthebeastswent，headsandhornsandtailsintheair。ForaminuteortwoIcouldmakeoutnothingexceptthedarkformsofthebeastsrunningoneverysideofme，andIshouldhavebeenverysorryifmyhorsehadstumbled，forthosebehindwouldhavetroddenmedown。Thentheherdsplit，partgoingtooneside，whiletheotherpartseeminglykeptstraightahead，andIgallopedashardaseverbesidethem。Iwastryingtoreachthepoint——theleadinganimals——inordertoturnthem，whensuddenlytherewasatremendoussplashinginfront。Icoulddimlymakeoutthatthecattleimmediatelyaheadandtoonesideofmeweredisappearing，andthenextmomentthehorseandIwentoffacutbankintotheLittleMissouri。Ibentawaybackinthesaddle，andthoughthehorsealmostwentdownhejustrecoveredhimself，and，plungingandstrugglingthroughwaterandquicksand，wemadetheotherside。HereIdiscoveredthattherewasanothercowboywiththesamepartoftheherdthatI