of shooting came up. Someone stuck an empty can in a tree at
a considerable distance from us and they began shooting at it with
carbines. When my turn came I pulled out the old 45 deg. pistol and by lucky
chance knocked the bottom out at the first shot. My visitors were amazed
that a six-shooter had such power and could be used with such accuracy
at that distance. In this case it was also a lucky shot; but constant
practice at rabbits, prairie dogs and targets had made me fairly
proficient. In New Mexico I had a cowboy working for me who was a
perfect marvel, a "born" marksman such as now and then appears in the
West. With a carbine he could keep a tin can rolling along the ground by
hitting, never the can, but just immediately behind and under it with
the greatest accuracy. If one tossed nickel pieces (size of a shilling)
in succession in front of him he would hit almost without fail every one
of them with his carbine--a bullet not shot! He left me to give
exhibition shooting at the Chicago Exposition.

On my ranch, at Running Water Draw, was unearthed during damming
operations, a vast quantity of bones of prehistoric age; which calls for
the remark that not only the horse but also the camel was at one time
indigenous to North America.

Nothing has been said yet about hail or lightning storms. Some of the
latter were indescribably grand, when at night the whole firmament would
be absolutely ablaze with flashes, sheets and waves so continuous as to
be without interval. Once when lying on my bed on the open prairie such
a storm came on. It opened with loud thunder and some brilliant flashes,
then the rain came down and deluged us, the water running two inches
deep over the grass; and when the rain ceased the wonderful electric
storm as described continued for an hour longer. The danger was over;
but the sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme. Night-herding too during
such a storm was a strange experience. No difficulty to see the cattle;
the whole herd stood with tails to the wind; the men lined out in front,
each well covered by his oilskin slicker, and his horse's tail likewise
turned to the storm; the whole outfit in review order so to speak, the
sole object of the riders being to prevent the cattle from "drifting."
This book contains no fiction or exaggeration; yet it will be hardly
believed when I state that hail actually riddled the corrugated iron
roof of my ranch house--new iron, not old or rusty stuff. The roof