The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-11-18

struggling from white cOcOons, six
brown. tousle-headed figures crawled
from the warmth and snugness of
wool blankets into the chill of early
morning amid the hills of Custer Ma
tional forest, Powder River county,
90 miles from MilestOwn.
Six pairs of legs struggled into as
many high-heeled boots, whose jung
ling spurs were still attached-and
six able-bOdied c~owpunchers were
dressed for the day.
"Better get in the bosses, Pistol!''
Whereupon the Youngest, a mere
youth, disappeared into the dawn that
was yet half night, caught and sad
died his "jingle hOrse' in the corral
and loped off to locate and drive in
50 head of m~ore-Or-less halter-broke
animals that were grazing somewhere
in the 300-acre "pasture."
Another youngster grabbed two
five-galIon pals and ambled off to
the spring for water. Wash-basin,
soap. towel and hair-cOmb, hObbled
near the chuck-wagOn, eased the morn
inc additions of rOsy-cheeked youth
and stubble-chinned middle age. For
the cow-camp's roster touched many
milestOnes-frOm "kids" Of One-and-
twenty to the leather-skinned visage
of a veteran of t|hreescore years and
three.
Al Fresco Breakfast
Presently 200 pounding hoofs min
gled their din with the tinkling tOcsin
of the old gray bellmare as the horses
were driven to an unwilling %prisOning
In the corral. Once inside, the gate
was swung to and Roger the wrangler
joined the others for breakfast.
Tin plates, cups, knives, forks and
spoons, thick slices Of unbuttered
bread. fried meat, fried "spuds" and
the kind of coffee that carries au-
thority in spite of the dilution OF
sugar and canned milk. This wa;
breakfast, wolfed with all the keer
appetite of perfect health, as sever
husky tail-twisters sat crOss-legged OF
the ''tarps," now rolled up to serve
as primitive divans for the day.
With dishes washed and cigarette
alight, each rider then repaired t.
the corral, where, rope in hand, anC
with appraising eye, he caught TIT
animal Of that days choice and lee
him forth to the temporary subjuga
ton of saddle and bride. All mount
being ready, the corral gate swunl
wide and the herd, seeming release
snOrted and Numbered its way to free
dOm-the Liberty Bell changing Wild,
from the throat Of the ancient switch
tail in the lead.
Morning in the piney hills! Tn
sun rising like a red prairie fire abOv
the distant buttes, purple in tn
shadows. The muffled beat of horses
hoofs. Cracking leather and tinklin
spurs and Tapping chaps. The SINE
of dew along the creek bottoms. Th
sound of wind in the balsams. God
in his heaven! ALPS well with til
world! .
Small wonder that the "dude"
the outfit starts to sing:
cover hill, over dale,
AS we hit the dustry trail,
Keep them white-face a-movin'
along"
Sam, the BOSNIAN, spurred his b
bay.
"C'mon, boys, let's git along!"
The cavalcade breaks into a ru
The dudes mount leaps from und,
him and he retains his seat only
the, expense of an abraided rum
where the eantle shaves off a pie
of skin as big as a silver dollar-ar
another tenderfoot learns that a re
cow-pony is alert, capricious and su
den.
Perils of the Profession
But that's just what makes him
cow-pony, fit for his job. For we a
"riding c~ircle'' this glorious Octob