ANDLE THEM. A BIT
OF MORALIZATION.

The ranch boss's voice rang out sharply, but kindly as he entered our
quarters where we were engaged in all sorts of occupations, some of the
boys playing cards, others smoking and swapping stories, while those
more industrious were diligently engaged in cleaning their forty-fives.
I glanced up from my long barreled rifle I was just putting the
finishing touches to, wondering what was up now. The boss informed us
that we were to take another herd of cattle north, away up in the
northwestern part of Nebraska, and that all of us who were on the last
trip had been selected for the duty again this trip. This announcement
was met with exclamations of approval from the boys who had now got
thoroughly rested up and were anxious for regular duty again. Since our
return from Wyoming we had not been doing much, but taking it easy with
occasional range riding and were becoming rusty in consequence. We were
to start on our second journey north this season as soon as possible, so
we lost no time in getting ready. We were to take the same size herd as
before. It did not take us long to round the herd up and the second day
from the time we received the order we were off. Our route was different
this time, starting from the home ranch in Arizona we went by way of New
Mexico, Colorado and into Nebraska, by way of the Platte river, which we
crossed near where the forks of the North and South Platte unite. It was
now late in the season and we had to hurry in order to get through in
good weather, therefore we put the cattle to the limit of their
traveling powers. Beef cattle, that is, four year old long horns differ
greatly from other cattle in their travel. The first day after being put
out on the trail they will travel twenty-five miles without any trouble
then as the pace begins to tell on them they fall back to fifteen or
twenty miles a day, and there also seems to be an understanding among
the cattle themselves that each must take a turn at leading the herd,
those that start in the lead in the morning will be away back in the
center of the herd at noon, and those that started in the center are now
leading. This they keep up until all have had their turn at leading and
as a rule if they are not scared by something they will stay pretty well
bunched. We allowed the herd to graze and rest during the night, only
traveling during the day, as a herd of cattle should never be moved off
their grazing grou