The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-05-31

taken their suppers and sat down on the Wagon
tongue, Kelley served supper to those INSIDE. ~
was well cooked, and the food, though plain anp
substantial, tasted TO Smith as well as could the
best efforts OF the most highly paid chefs IN the
metropolis Air tights or canned goods made
up large part of the menu, spinach and sweet
potatoes being served from cans.
There was aycouple Of cow-punchers around
here this afternoon said Kelley, as he poured
out the steaming coffee. and they lowed as
how we would have to pull camp pretty soon
They didn't seem to be doing much. Just loating
around like cowpunchers always does never
did see such lazy outfit as cowpunchers.
remember when was cookin' for the Flying NJ
layout old man Hendricks hired couple OF
punchers for the spring roundup along in March.
They laid in the bunk house for four weeks,
and when he tried to get them to dig post holes
for fence across Dry Creek Canyon you ought
to hear the roar Do YOU suppose them COW
punchers would dig post holes like an ordinary
human being: Not much They trapped cou-
pic OF badgers and fixed them up with collars
and chains They'd ride on their cayuses, drag
gin them badgers along till they struck place
where they though there ought to be post hole,
and then drop few grains OF corn Them badg-
crs would start to dggin', for badger will 60
to China for corn In ten minutes by the clock
thev'd have nice post hole dug II was pickns
for the punchers but never seed a cowpuncher
who wasn't looIln for pickins of some sort.
When | was cookn the roundup with the
chuck wagon, I'd ask the horse wrangler for
some frewood Would he carry it into camp like
white man. Not much. He'd get on his nag
and rope couple Of sage brush, drag them in,
and then drop his loop over cottonwood log.
They're the LATEST skunks on the face OF the
earth. them cowpunchers.
Did those fellows try to start anything"
asked Duncan.
"No. They kept pretty much 70 their business.
They raising their usual honer about the
range being all sheeped off and no place to work
the cattle for the spring roundup this side Of
the river but they didn't 90 TO prognostcatin
any trouble Reckon they'll start anything!"
Nav Ever since that killing up at Ten
Sleep where Barnes and Waters were sent up for
life, the COW outfits are getting plumb tame.
They hate us as much even, but they haven't
got the nerve to go through with il"
II was growing dark The sheep had come in
from the range-and were bedding down for the
night on knoll behind the wagon. The men
were also getting sleepy.
Where do VIC bunk'' asked one Of the new
men
Got your beds, haven't your" asked Kelley.
Sure
We'll. | reckon YOU can sleep in the far pas
ture. Better close the gate, though, cause its
goin' to be windy tonight, and you might catch
your death o cold.
With the exception of the regular herder
whose wagon was being used for the camp, and
Kelly the cook. all OF the men spread their beds
outdoors. The heavy "tarps' kept out the dew
or even rain. while the sougans and blankets per
formed the double service OF mattress and cover
ing.
You'll have to take the drop band" were the
first words Smith heard the next morning when
he was awakened by Bumpass.
After a hurried breakfast in the wagon, he
went over the hill about two miles, where the
sheep were feding
Don't 1t them get away too far" said Duncan,
who was looking at the herd "or the lambs will
be scattered all over the range. And don't dog
them Old Scott here knows the work. and all
YOU have to do is TO keep them from stringing
out all over the country
Smiths experience in watching Robinson work
his dogs stood him IN good stead but with OLD
Scott he had to give but few directions The vet
Gran OF the range seemed 10 know intutively
when the sheep should be turned and after Smith
had given sign Of assent he would shift the
band in another direction. and then keep his
post TO that they did not continue their feed
ing in forbidden territory. Smith soon learned
the herder who had Old Scott was indeed for
tunste The long. lonesome hours did not pail
upon him. The habits OF the sheep the ntelii-
genoe OF the dogs and the wild. primitive sur
roundings were full Of charm Once in a while
he would sec the sheep suddenly turn and run
iron spot where there was no dog. and he
would get fleeting glimpse OF a coyote. fright
ened away himself by the presence OF the heFder
and his dogs
Day by day. Smith tended the drop band.
Early IN the morning. the newly born lambs and
their mothers were cut back from the main hero
and turned over 70 the other lambers who were
hired TO take care Of the small bands until the
lambs were old enough to keep up with the herd
smith was learning through experience the arr Z