efore, takes place in those sections.
It is a stirring time when the wonderful horsemen are engaged for days
in branding the calves that have been added to their herds during the
previous months. Sometimes some of the branded cattle wander off while
grazing, but if a cattleman from Central Wyoming came upon an animal
hundreds of miles north in Montana, bearing his brand, he would promptly
cut out the brute from another herd, whose owner would not think of
making objection.

It happens now and then that some of the cattle stray off before they
are branded. The difficulty of their owners identifying them will be
understood. Such cattle are mavericks, and whoever comes upon them loses
little time in scorching his brand into their shoulders or hips, after
which no one cares to dispute their ownership.

The cowmen whose duty it was to look after the large herd browsing over
the thousands of acres composing Bowman's ranch had two annoyances to
guard against. It was their duty, as may be said, to keep the animals
well in hand. But for this precaution hundreds of them would gradually
drift apart until, when the time came for rounding them up, they would
be gone beyond recovery. Great loss, therefore, was averted by looking
after them.

A more aggravating annoyance, however, brings loss to the owners of the
herds. Despite the stringent law, there is always a certain number of
desperate men who take perilous chances in stealing cattle and running
them off beyond recovery by their owners. This practice is not so
prevalent as formerly, for since the brands are registered, and the
agents well known at Cheyenne, Helena, and other shipping-points, the
thieves find it hard to explain their possession of the carcasses thus
marked and escape the arrest and imprisonment provided as a penalty.

One feature of this annoyance comes from the Indians. By far the greater
majority of those on the reservations are law-abiding. Under the patient
and skilful tutorship of the Government agents they are advancing in
civilization, and in a knowledge of the trades and of agriculture.
Rarely is there any trouble with them; but it would be strange indeed
if, among these people not yet fairly emerged from barbarism, there were
not a number sullen because of the change, and who cling to the
traditions and practices when the Indian looked upon every white man as
his enemy, whom it was his duty to kill upon the first opportunity. The
watchfulness of the