is we finally accomplished, after a great deal of hard riding
over the rough Rio Grande country, and both men and horses were
completely tired out, so we went into camp, only holding the herd
together and getting rested up. This opportunity we improved by getting
acquainted and fraternizing with the cow boys of one of the oldest
cattle countries this side of the herring pond--Old Mexico. These men
were for the most part typical greasers, but they proved to us that they
knew a thing or two about the cattle business, and all things considered
they were a jolly companionable sort of an outfit. From them we learned
a few pointers and also gave them a few very much to our mutual benefit.
We remained here a few days before starting northward with our herd, but
these few days proved very pleasant ones to us boys who, on account of
the monotony of the life we led always welcomed new experiences or
events that would give us something to think and talk about while on our
long rides behind the slow moving herd of long-horn steers, or around
our camp fires when in camp on the plains, and it gave us especial
pleasure to meet men of the same calling from other states over the
west. It not only gave us pleasure, but it added to our cow knowledge,
and of the country over which we might at any time be called on to drive
cattle, and in such cases a knowledge of the country was most valuable
to us. Then a cow boy's life contains many things in which he is
continually trying to improve and excel, such as roping, shooting,
riding and branding and many other things connected with the cattle
business. We, in common with other trades, did not know it all, and we
were always ready to learn anything new when we met any one who was
capable of teaching us.

[Illustration: After Business Comes Pleasure]

CHAPTER IX.

EN ROUTE TO WYOMING. THE INDIANS DEMAND TOLL. THE FIGHT. A BUFFALO
STAMPEDE. TRAGIC DEATH OF CAL. SURCEY. AN EVENTFUL TRIP.

[Illustration: A Buffalo Stampede--On They Came, a Maddened, Plunging
Snorting, Bellowing Mass of Horns and Hoofs]

After getting the cattle together down on the Rio Grande and both man
and beast had got somewhat rested up, we started the herd north. They
were to be delivered to a man by the name of Mitchell, whose ranch was
located along the Powder river, up in northern Wyoming. It was a long
distance to drive cattle from Old Mexico to northern Wyoming, but to us
it was nothing extraordinary as we w