boys and the bawling of
the cows.

When all the cows and calves were cut out, a rider of each outfit
owning cattle on that range would go through to claim those belonging
to his brand. Next the herd of bulls and steers, old cows and
yearlings, would be driven back out upon the range.

Fires were started, and as there was no wood on that range, buffalo
chips were used instead. It took many cowboys to collect sufficient
for their needs.

At sunset, when the branding of calves was finished, each cowboy caught
a horse for night duty. Pan got one he called Old Paint.

"Say, kid," called one of the Crow Nest cowboys, "ain't you tyin' up a
pretty fancy hoss fer night work?"

"Oh, I guess not," laughed Pan.

"Come heah, Blowy," called the cowboy to another. "See what I found."

A long lanky red-faced rider detached himself from the others, and
strode with jingling spurs over to look at Pan's horse.

"Wal, I'll go to hell, Ben Bolt, if it ain't ol' Calico!" he
ejaculated, in amaze and pleasure. "Kid, whar'd you ever git him?"

"Dad made a trade," replied Pan.

"Kid, look a heah. Don't ever tie that hoss to a stake pin. He's the
best cow hoss I ever slung a leg over. The puncher who broke him an'
reached him all he knows was my pard, long ago. An' he's daid. Kid,
he'd roll over in his grave if he knowed ol' Cal was tied to a picket
pin."

"Aw, is that so?" replied Pan. "Fact is, I don't know much about him.
We called him Old Paint. Haven't forked him yet. Dad got him from a
lady last winter. She was trying to work him to a cart. But he
balked. She said she poured some hot water on...."

"Lady, hell!" shouted the cowboy, growing redder of face. "She wasn't
no lady if she treated that grand hoss that way.... See heah, kid,
I'll stake you to a good night hoss. Turn Ol' Cal loose, an' whenever
you need to do some real fancy separatin' jest set your frusky on ol'
Cal. Better tie to your stirrups if you're perticler aboot keepin'
your seat, 'cause 'at ol' pony can sure git from under a cowhand."

"All right, I'll turn Old Calico loose," replied Pan. "And I'll
remember what you said about him."

Blowy pointed out one of his horses. "Kid, screw your wood to thet
Jasper, an' you'll never be walkin'."

"Thanks, but I got lots of horses," said Pan.

"Aw go on--lots of horses. Why bunkie, I got more mean horses than I
can start to keep gentle. I just fetched thet one to stake my friends."

Pan sa