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of the wranglers； and made out a cloud of dust。 In a moment the
first of the remuda came into view； trotting forward with the
free grace of the unburdened horse。 Others followed in
procession： those near sharp and well defined； those in the
background more or less obscured by the dust； now appearing
plainly； now fading like ghosts。 The leader turned
unhesitatingly into the corral。 After him poured the stream of
the remudatwo hundred and fifty saddle horseswith an
unceasing thunder of hoofs。
Immediately the cook…camp was deserted。 The cowboys entered the
corral。 The horses began to circle around the edge of the
enclosure as around the circumference of a circus ring。 The men；
grouped at the centre； watched keenly； looking for the mounts
they had already decided on。 In no time each had recognised
his choice； and； his loop trailing； was walking toward that part
of the revolving circumference where his pony dodged。 Some few
whirled the loop； but most cast it with a quick flip。 It was
really marvellous to observe the accuracy with which the noose
would fly； past a dozen tossing heads； and over a dozen backs； to
settle firmly about the neck of an animal perhaps in the very
centre of the group。 But again； if the first throw failed； it
was interesting to see how the selected pony would dodge； double
back； twist； turn； and hide to escape second cast。 And it was
equally interesting to observe how his companions would help him。
They seemed to realise that they were not wanted； and would push
themselves between the cowboy and his intended mount with the
utmost boldness。 In the thick dust that instantly arose； and
with the bewildering thunder of galloping； the flashing change of
grouping； the rush of the charging animals； recognition alone
would seem almost impossible； yet in an incredibly short time
each had his mount； and the others； under convoy of the
wranglers； were meekly wending their way out over the plain。
There； until time for a change of horses； they would graze in a
loose and scattered band； requiring scarcely any supervision。
Escape？ Bless you； no； that thought was the last in their minds。
In the meantime the saddles and bridles were adjusted。 Always in
a cowboy's 〃string〃 of from six to ten animals the boss assigns
him two or three broncos to break in to the cow business。
Therefore； each morning we could observe a half dozen or so men
gingerly leading wicked looking little animals out to the sand
〃to take the pitch out of them。〃 One small black； belonging to a
cowboy called the Judge； used more than to fulfil expectations of
a good time。
〃Go to him； Judge！〃 someone would always remark。
〃If he ain't goin' to pitch； I ain't goin' to make him〃； the
Judge would grin； as he swung aboard。
The black would trot off quite calmly and in a most matter of
fact way； as though to shame all slanderers of his lamb…like
character。 Then； as the bystanders would turn away； he would
utter a squeal； throw down his head； and go at it。 He was a very
hard bucker； and made some really spectacular jumps； but the
trick on which he based his claims to originality consisted in
standing on his hind legs at so perilous an approach to the
perpendicular that his rider would conclude he was about to fall
backwards； and then suddenly springing forward in a series of
stiff…legged bucks。 The first manoeuvre induced the rider to
loosen his seat in order to be ready to jump from under； and the
second threw him before he could regain his grip。
〃And they say a horse don't think！〃 exclaimed an admirer。
But as these were broken horsessave the mark！the show was all
over after each had had his little fling。 We mounted and rode
away； just as the mountain peaks to the west caught the rays of a
sun we should not enjoy for a good half hour yet。
I had five horses in my string； and this morning rode 〃that C S
horse； Brown Jug。〃 Brown Jug was a powerful and well…built
animal； about fourteen two in height； and possessed of a vast
enthusiasm for cow…work。 As the morning was frosty； he felt
good。
At the gate of the water corral we separated into two groups。
The smaller； under the direction of Jed Parker； was to drive the
mesquite in the wide flats。 The rest of us； under the command of
Homer； the round…up captain； were to sweep the country even as
far as the base of the foothills near Mount Graham。 Accordingly
we put our horses to the full gallop。
Mile after mile we thundered along at a brisk rate of speed。
Sometimes we dodged in and out among the mesquite bushes；
alternately separating and coming together again； sometimes we
swept over grassy plains apparently of illimitable extent；
sometimes we skipped and hopped and buck…jumped through and over
little gullies； barrancas； and other sorts of malpaisbut always
without drawing rein。 The men rode easily； with no thought to
the way nor care for the footing。 The air came back sharp
against our faces。 The warm blood stirred by the rush flowed
more rapidly。 We experienced a delightful glow。 Of the morning
cold only the very tips of our fingers and the ends of our noses
retained a remnant。 Already the sun was shining low and level
across the plains。 The shadows of the canons modelled the
hitherto flat surfaces of the mountains。
After a time we came to some low hills helmeted with the outcrop
of a rock escarpment。 Hitherto they had seemed a termination of
Mount Graham； but now； when we rode around them； we discovered
them to be separated from the range by a good five miles of
sloping plain。 Later we looked back and would have sworn them
part of the Dos Cabesas system； did we not know them to be at
least eight miles' distant from that rocky rampart。 It is always
that way in Arizona。 Spaces develop of whose existence you had
not the slightest intimation。 Hidden in apparently plane
surfaces are valleys and prairies。 At one sweep of the eye you
embrace the entire area of an eastern State； but nevertheless the
reality as you explore it foot by foot proves to be infinitely
more than the vision has promised。
Beyond the hill we stopped。 Here our party divided again； half
to the right and half to the left。 We had ridden； up to this
time； directly away from camp； now we rode a circumference of
which headquarters was the centre。 The country was pleasantly
rolling and covered with grass。 Here and there were clumps of
soapweed。 Far in a remote distance lay a slender dark line
across the plain。 This we knew to be mesquite； and once entered；
we knew it； too； would seem to spread out vastly。 And then this
grassy slope； on which we now rode； would show merely as an
insignificant streak of yellow。 It is also like that in Arizona。
I have ridden in succession through grass land； brush land；
flower land； desert。 Each in turn seemed entirely to fill the
space of the plains between the mountains。
From time to time Homer halted us and detached a man。 The
business of the latter was then to ride directly back to camp；
driving all cattle before him。 Each was in sight of his right…
and left…hand neighbour。 Thus was constructed a drag…net whose
meshes contracted as home was neared。
I was detached； when of our party only the Cattleman and Homer
remained。 They would take the outside。 This was the post of
honour； and required the hardest riding； for as soon as the
cattle should realise the fact of their pursuit； they would
attempt to 〃break〃 past the end and up the valley。 Brown
Jug and I congratulated ourselves on an exciting morning in
prospect。
Now； wild cattle know perfectly well what a drive means； and they
do not intend to get into a round…up if they can help it。 Were
it not for the two facts； that they are afraid of a mounted man；
and cannot run quite so fast as a horse； I do not know how the
cattle business would be conducted。 As soon as a band of them
caught sight of any one of us； they curled their tails and away
they went at a long； easy lope that a domestic cow would stare at
in wonder。 This was all very well； in fact we yelled and
shrieked and otherwise uttered cow…calls to keep them going； to
〃get the cattle started；〃 as they say。 But pretty soon a little
band of the many scurrying away before our thin line； began to
bear farther and farther to the east。 When in their judgment
they should have gained an opening； they would turn directly back
and make a dash for liberty。 Accordingly the nearest cowboy
clapped spurs to his horse and pursued them。
It was a pretty race。 The cattle ran easily enough； with long；
springy jumps that carried them over the ground faster than
appearances would lead one to believe。 The cow…pony； his nose
stretched out； his ears slanted； his eyes snapping with joy of
the chase； flew fairly 〃belly to earth。〃 Th