Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-12

quite so long"
The branding was soon over and
then the camp began to move. The
next roundup lay over formidable
ridge and as rode behind the troupe
with the boss, saw characteristic
scene. Toiling up the terrible grade,
one horse on the cooks wagon gave
out, and four of the cowboys hitched
their lariats to the pole and jerlxed the
wagon up the gulch like n bat out O.
he'll" as one man graphically put it.
In this way do these men dominate all
conditions.
AS we rose the snow-covered noun
tains came into view again, and far to
the northwest Pixies Peak rose like
pink moon with silver bands. Ali
about were tumbled granite ridges and
glorious grassy swells.
Just at sunset we wound down into
wide deliciously green valley where no
mark of man was set, save in the trail.
In the center of the basin drove of
cattle was feeding. Beyond, swift rid
ers were pushing before them the herd
of saddle horses. Below, out of deep
detile a platoon of other riders was
moving to meet u.s. 1t was all beauti-
full, unworn, impressive.
The horsemen drew up under a row
of cottonwood trees and waited our
approach. The wagon stopped amid
shouts. The cook tumbled out. The
horsemen flung saddles from tired
ponies. Others, with ready lariats, gal
loped away for logs of dry wood. liam
mers were heard driving hut stakes.
The tents rose, the stove clattered into
place, and in ten minutes wattr was ON
the fire for coffee.
The horse wrangler and his detail
rounded in the horses and disappeared
with whoop and whistle over the hill
upon mesa. 1t had in it the move
ment, the activity and orderliness of
cavalry camp.
Eating was no delicate business with
these centaurs. Ithad the certainty and
savagery of farm threshing crew.
There were no tables and no frills like
csps or butter knives. Some ate stand
ing, Others sat on rolls of bedding.
Every man helped himself.
They were rough, iron-sided fellows
mainly Missourians, and mostly less
than thirty years of age. They wore
rough business overalls and colored
shirts-quite generally gray, with dirt
and sweat. Their boots were short and
very high-heeled, and their wide hats
and "slickers" were the only uniform
articles of dress. Revolvers, bearslin
leggings and cartridge belts have been
discarded, as they were considered an
affectation.
AS night fell the men built a great
bonfire and, surrounding 1t, sang and
boasted and told stiff yarns and ex-
ploded in obscenity till time to turn in.
Then they packed into the tent like
sardine and became quiet In sleep
they were quiet at no other time In the
day.
As we We're eating breakfast the
next morning, everybody feeling damp
and stiff in the joints, there came the
dull throbbing of hoofs and down the
valley the horse wrangler came, shout
ing: Horses" Before him the troop
was rushing like wild herd.
Others took up the cry: Horses! Get
your bridles."
The wrang'er rounded the drove to-
ward the tents whence issued the
riders, lariat in hand. The horses are
all broncho grades, small, alert, fat
limbed, wild-eyed and tricky. They
have to be caught with the rope each
day. The men surround them, herding
them into compact squad. The riders
advanced into the herd one by one.
with coiled ropes ready, and noosed
and pulled out their best horses, for
the ride was to be hard.
One man tried three times for wick
ed-looking buckslSin broncho. The men
jeered him, but he noosed him at last
and drew him out with wild eyes rolling.
The saddles went on meanwhile, the
horses wincing at the cinch. At last
all were secured, the riders swung in
to the saddle and dashed away with
that singular, swift gliding, sidewise
gallop so characteristic of these men
and their ponies.
These hardy horses and their power
full and reckless men are a product of
these hills as truly as the cattle. 1t is
not lonely life-it does not appear to
be very high sort of civilization-it
will give way to civilization-it makes
men hard and coarse, and yet it carries
1t with something fine and wholesome.
1t has retreated from the plains to the
mountain yalleys-from the mountain
valleys it has sought final refuge on
the mountain tops themselves, where
grain and fruit will not grow. At an
altitude twice as high as the peaks of
the Alleghanies, these cattlemen have
fixed their ranges Whether the settler
or the miner will dislodge him from
these rigorous and rugged attitudes, re-
mains to be seen. HAMLIN GARLAND.
To Supplant Tin Cans.
L L