ose as on a
certain occasion, at my summer camp in Arizona, when one of the men and
myself were playing cards together. We were alone. The man was our best
"hand," and a capital fellow, though a fugitive from justice, like some
of the others. It became apparent to me that he was cheating, and I was
rash enough to let him understand that I knew it, without however
absolutely accusing him of it. At once he pulled out his gun, leant
over, and pointed it at me. What can one do in such a case? He had the
"drop" on me; and demanded that I should take back what I had said.
Well, I wriggled out of it somehow, told him he was very foolish to make
such a "break" as that, and talked to him till he cooled down. It was an
anxious few minutes, and I am very proud to think he did not "phase" me
very much, as he afterwards admitted. Peace was secured with honour.

I was lucky to be able to leave the West and the cattle business with a
hide free from perforations and punctures of any kind.

CHAPTER VI

ODDS AND ENDS

Summer Round-up Notes--Night Guarding--Stampedes--Bronco
Busting--Cattle Branding, etc.

Round-up and trail work had many agreeable aspects, and though it was at
times very hard work, still I look back to it all with fond memories.
The hours were long--breakfast was already cooked and "chuck" called
long before sunrise; horses were changed, the night horses turned loose
and a fresh mount for the morning's work caught out of the ramuda. By
the time breakfast was over it was generally just light enough to see
dimly the features of the country. The boss then gave his orders to the
riders as to where to go and what country to round-up, also the round-up
place at noon. He started the day-herd off grazing towards the same
place, and finally saw the wagon with its four mules loaded up and
despatched. There was generally a "circus" every morning on the men
starting out to their work. On a cold morning a cow-horse does not like
to be very tightly cinched or girthed up. He resents it by at once
beginning to buck furiously as soon as his rider gets into his saddle.

[Illustration: CHANGING HORSES.]

Even staid old horses will do it on a very cold morning. But the "young
uns," the broncos, are then perfect fiends. Thus there is nearly always
some sport to begin the day with. By noon the round-up has been
completed and a large herd of cattle collected. Separating begins at
once, first cows and calves, then stee