The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-11-12

an active purpose, for while upon
foot, roping cattle and horses or in
the work of branding cattle such
heels enable them to return their
position and to exert more force
upon the rope. A trial will con-
vince the most skeptical of the
truth of the seeming paradox.
Boots are necessity, not only as
protection in other ways, but
also on account OF the stirrups.
Instead of resting simply the
ball of the foot upon the stirrup
the cowboy rides with his feet
thrust through until the narrow
stirrup rests under the instep.
This gives a very fine hold on the
stirrups amid the swift turning
and clrcling and when wearing
shoes becomes very tiresome 10 the
front of the ankle. This method
of riding deep in the stirrups is
sufficient to mark the cowboy
when seen anywhere, though there
are other marks also, as they are
superb aud daring riders.
The spurs are there as a matter
OF course, and stay on the boots,
which causes a good deal of iing-
ling in walking across the floor.
AS for the bowie knife and six
shooters, they are not there. Tie
laws of Texas in regard to carrying
weapons, concealed or uncon-
cealed, are much stricter than
they are ia many older states,
so that the belts of the plalnsmen
have no such appurtenances.
Throughout this article we are
speaking of the cowboys as they
are at home. When they have
carried q bunch of cattle to the
shipping point on the railroad
possibly hundred miles away, or
have gone into town after beir G
paid off, there are some who dc
things not in accord with the
strictest rules of decorum, but
such outbreaks are seldom, and
are far from being INDUCED in By
all of the number.
Their horses arc interesting and
splendidly trained, They are no.
mustangs, but are larger, ant
With no other food than the curly
MESQUITE or buffalo grass. which
covers the earth like carpet
they will do an amount OF worl
that would kill the finest Stalled
horse of the ordinary kind almos
upon the spot. Large horses
could not stard the work, and arr
not suited for it. Quick motion:
and powers of endurance are wha
are wanted, and these are com bine'
in the COW pony. When a halt il
riding is made, the horses ar
brought into a bunch, with thei
heads together, with their rein
lying upon the ground, and ther
thev stand until they are wante
again. Each cowboy has a noun
of from SIX to 10, which are riddle
!. in turn. Some of these may be III
broken bronchos, or "bronchs, a
they are called, but that does nc
matter. They are ridden. On
of these bucking bronchos remint
one of cross between patief
suffering from severe case
cramp collie and q volcano in actiN
opera%ion. He fellows and leal
: and pitches aud draws up in a kn'
s and seems leaving the earth e
q tirely, and then comes down wi
" all four feet in bunch and grim
l. his teeth with rage, but the co
% bow smiles serenely and keeps /
6 seat. Sometimes he cannot l
r strain his exhileration at the pr
+. ceedings of his steed and ye
le with defiance and delight. +
r quirt, or riding whip, is also
n from being inactive, and the hea
h spurs get in their work until t
ID horse is conquered. Such ridl
r, might be a good cure for indigo
at tion, but no conscientious physci
would recommend it to inva
Mt patients, and the neophyte "
IN tries it would do well to have
ce life insured before the performan
be begins. Sometimes a wild MI
q tang, found here on the plains
he droves, is caught, but all is gr
ht that comes to the mill of