按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
enveloped us； and we knew little more； save the anxiety lest we
overlook laggards in the brush； until we came out on the edge of
that same white plain。
Here were more cattle； thousands of them； and billows of dust；
and a great bellowing； and slim； mounted figures riding and
shouting ahead of the herd。 Soon they succeeded in turning the
leaders back。 These threw into confusion those that followed。
In a few moments the cattle had stopped。 A cordon of horsemen
sat at equal distances holding them in。
〃Pretty good haul；〃 said the man next to me； 〃a good five
thousand head。〃
CHAPTER SIX
CUTTING OUT
It was somewhere near noon by the time we had bunched and held
the herd of some four or five thousand head in the smooth； wide
flat； free from bushes and dog holes。 Each sat at ease on his
horse facing the cattle； watching lazily the clouds of dust and
the shifting beasts； but ready at any instant to turn back the
restless or independent individuals that might break for liberty。
Out of the haze came Homer； the round…up captain； on an easy
lope。 As he passed successively the sentries he delivered to
each a low command； but without slacking pace。 Some of those
spoken to wheeled their horses and rode away。 The others settled
themselves in their saddles and began to roll cigarettes。
〃Change horses； get something to eat；〃 said he to me； so I swung
after the file traveling at a canter over the low swells beyond
the plain。
The remuda had been driven by its leaders to a corner of the
pasture's wire fence； and there held。 As each man arrived he
dismounted； threw off his saddle； and turned his animal loose。
Then he flipped a loop in his rope and disappeared in the eddying
herd。 The discarded horse； with many grunts； indulged in a
satisfying roll； shook himself vigorously； and walked slowly
away。 His labour was over for the day； and he knew it； and took
not the slightest trouble to get out of the way of the men with
the swinging ropes。
Not so the fresh horses； however。 They had no intention of being
caught； if they could help it； but dodged and twisted； hid and
doubled behind the moving screen of their friends。 The latter；
seeming as usual to know they were not wanted； made no effort to
avoid the men； which probably accounted in great measure for the
fact that the herd as a body remained compact； in spite of the
cowboys threading it； and in spite of the lack of an enclosure。
Our horses caught； we saddled as hastily as possible； and then at
the top speed of our fresh and eager ponies we swept down on the
chuck wagon。 There we fell off our saddles and descended on the
meat and bread like ravenous locusts on a cornfield。 The ponies
stood where we left them； 〃tied to the ground〃； the
cattle…country fashion。
As soon as a man had stoked up for the afternoon he rode away。
Some finished before others； so across the plain formed an
endless procession of men returning to the herd； and of those
whom they replaced coming for their turn at the grub。
We found the herd quiet。 Some were even lying down； chewing
their cuds as peacefully as any barnyard cows。 Most； however；
stood ruminative； or walked slowly to and fro in the confines
allotted by the horsemen； so that the herd looked from a distance
like a brown carpet whose pattern was constantly changinga
dusty brown carpet in the process of being beaten。 I relieved
one of the watchers； and settled myself for a wait。
At this close inspection the different sorts of cattle showed
more distinctly their characteristics。 The cows and calves
generally rested peacefully enough； the calf often lying down
while the mother stood guard over it。 Steers； however； were more
restless。 They walked ceaselessly； threading their way in and
out among the standing cattle； pausing in brutish amazement at
the edge of the herd； and turning back immediately to endless
journeyings。 The bulls； excited by so much company forced on
their accustomed solitary habit； roared defiance at each other
until the air fairly trembled。 Occasionally two would clash
foreheads。 Then the powerful animals would push and wrestle；
trying for a chance to gore。 The decision of supremacy was a
question of but a few minutes； and a bloody topknot the worst
damage。 The defeated one side…stepped hastily and clumsily out
of reach； and then walked away。
Most of the time all we had to do was to sit our horses and watch
these things； to enjoy the warm bath of the Arizona sun； and to
converse with our next neighbours。 Once in a while some
enterprising cow； observing the opening between the men； would
start to walk out。 Others would fall in behind her until the
movement would become general。 Then one of us would swing his
leg off the pommel and jog his pony over to head them off。 They
would return peacefully enough。
But one black muley cow； with a calf as black and muley as
herself； was more persistent。 Time after time； with infinite
patience； she tried it again the moment my back was turned。 I
tried driving her far into the herd。 No use； she always
returned。 Quirtings and stones had no effect on her mild and
steady persistence。
〃She's a San Simon cow；〃 drawled my neighbour。 〃Everybody knows
her。 She's at every round…up； just naturally raisin' hell。〃
When the last man had returned from chuck； Homer made the
dispositions for the cut。 There were present probably thirty men
from the home ranches round about； and twenty representing owners
at a distance； here to pick up the strays inevitable to the
season's drift。 The round…up captain appointed two men to hold
the cow…and…calf cut； and two more to hold the steer cut。
Several of us rode into the herd； while the remainder retained
their positions as sentinels to hold the main body of cattle in
shape。
Little G and I rode slowly among the cattle looking everywhere。
The animals moved sluggishly aside to give us passage； and closed
in as sluggishly behind us； so that we were always closely hemmed
in wherever we went。 Over the shifting sleek backs； through the
eddying clouds of dust； I could make out the figures of my
companions moving slowly； apparently aimlessly； here and there。
Our task for the moment was to search out the unbranded J H
calves。 Since in ranks so closely crowded it would be physically
impossible actually to see an animal's branded flank； we depended
entirely on the ear…marks。
Did you ever notice how any animal； tame or wild； always points
his ears inquiringly in the direction of whatever interests or
alarms him？ Those ears are for the moment his most prominent
feature。 So when a brand is quite indistinguishable because； as
now； of press of numbers； or； as in winter； from extreme length
of hair； the cropped ears tell plainly the tale of ownership。 As
every animal is so marked when branded； it follows that an uncut
pair of ears means that its owner has never felt the iron。
So； now we had to look first of all for calves with uncut ears。
After discovering one； we had to ascertain his ownership by
examining the ear…marks of his mother； by whose side he was sure；
in this alarming multitude； to be clinging faithfully。
Calves were numerous； and J H cows everywhere to be seen； so in
somewhat less than ten seconds I had my eye on a mother and son。
Immediately I turned Little G in their direction。 At the slap of
my quirt against the stirrup； all the cows immediately about me
shrank suspiciously aside。 Little G stepped forward daintily；
his nostrils expanding； his ears working back and forth； trying
to the best of his ability to understand which animals I had
selected。 The cow and her calf turned in toward the centre of
the herd。 A touch of the reins guided the pony。 At once he
comprehended。 From that time on he needed no further directions。
Cautiously； patiently； with great skill； he forced the cow
through the press toward the edge of the herd。 It had to be done
very quietly； at a foot pace； so as to alarm neither the objects
of pursuit nor those surrounding them。 When the cow turned back；
Little G somehow happened always in her way。 Before she knew it
she was at the outer edge of the herd。 There she found herself；
with a group of three or four companions； facing the open plain。
Instinctively she sought shelter。 I felt Little G's muscles
tighten beneath me。 The moment for action had come。 Before the
cow had a chance to dodge among her companions the pony was upon
her like a thunderbolt。 She broke in alarm； trying desperately
to avoid the rush。 There ensued an exciting contest of dodgings；
turnings；and doublings。 Wherever she turned Little G was before
her。 Some of his evolutions were marvellous。 All I had to do
was to sit my saddle； and apply just that final touch of judgment