over long distances in going from grass
to water, they naturally grow thin from insufficient food and are worn
out by the repeated long journeys. A cow that is thin and weak will
postpone making the trip as long as possible--two, three and even four
days in the hottest weather she will wait before attempting the trip.
At last, when the poor creature reaches water, she is so famished from
thirst that she drinks too much. In her feeble condition she is unable
to carry the enormous load of water which she drinks and lies down by
the side of the friendly water trough to die from exhaustion.

If cattle are turned loose upon a new range they act strange and are
inclined to scatter. Until they become accustomed to the change they
should be close herded, but after they are once located they are not
liable to stray very far.

As they are only worked by men on horseback they are not frightened at
the sight of a horse and rider; but let a stranger approach them on
foot, in a moment after he is sighted every head is raised in surprise
and alarm and the pedestrian is, indeed, fortunate if the herd turns
tail and scampers off instead of running him down and tramping him
under foot in a wild stampede.

Nowhere else can be found a finer sight than is witnessed in the range
country. In every direction broad meadows stretch away to the horizon
where numberless cattle roam and are the embodiment of bovine happiness
and contentment. Scattered about in irregular groups they are seen at
ease lying down or feeding, and frisking about in an overflow of
exuberant life. Cow paths or trails converge from every point of the
compass, that lead to springs and water holes, on which the cattle
travel.

It is an interesting sight to watch the cattle maneuver as they form in
line, single file, ready for the march. They move forward in an easy,
deliberate walk one behind the other and may be seen coming and going
in every direction. They make their trips with great regularity back
and forth from grass to water, and vice versa, going to water in the
morning and back to the feeding grounds at night.

Cows have a curious fashion, sometimes, of hiding out their calves.
When a cow with a young calf starts for water she invariably hides her
calf in a bunch of grass or clump of bushes in some secluded spot,
where it lies down and remains perfectly quiet until the mother
returns. I have many times while riding the range found calves thus
secreted