waswith；butalmostimmediatelyweseparated。Igallopedhardthroughabottomcoveredwithbigcottonwoodtrees，andstoppedthepartoftheherdthatIwaswith，butverysoontheybrokeonmeagain，andrepeatedthistwice。FinallytowardmorningthefewIhadleftcametoahalt。
Ithadbeenraininghardforsometime。Igotoffmyhorseandleanedagainstatree，butbeforelongtheinfernalcattlestartedonagain，andIhadtorideafterthem。Dawncamesoonafterthis，andIwasabletomakeoutwhereIwasandheadthecattleback，collectingotherlittlebunchesasIwent。AfterawhileIcameonacowboyonfootcarryinghissaddleonhishead。Hewasmycompanionofthepreviousnight。Hishorsehadgonefullspeedintoatreeandkilleditself，theman，however，notbeinghurt。Icouldnothelphim，asI
hadallIcoulddotohandlethecattle。WhenIgotthemtothewagon，mostoftheothermenhadalreadycomeinandtheriderswerejuststartingonthelongcircle。OneofthemenchangedmyhorseformewhileIateahastybreakfast，andthenwewereofffortheday’swork。
Asonlyabouthalfofthenightherdhadbeenbroughtback，thecircleridingwasparticularlyheavy，anditwastenhoursbeforewewerebackatthewagon。Wethenchangedhorsesagainandworkedthewholeherduntilaftersunset，finishingjustasitgrewtoodarktodoanythingmore。BythistimeIhadbeennearlyfortyhoursinthesaddle，changinghorsesfivetimes，andmyclotheshadthoroughlydriedonme，andIfellasleepassoonasItouchedthebedding。
Fortunatelysomemenwhohadgotteninlateinthemorninghadhadtheirsleepduringthedaytime，sothattherestofusescapednightguardandwerenotcalleduntilfournextmorning。Nobodyevergetsenoughsleeponaround-up。
TheabovewasthelongestnumberofconsecutivehoursIeverhadtobeinthesaddle。But，asIhavesaid，Ichangedhorsesfivetimes，anditisagreatlighteningoflaborforaridertohaveafreshhorse。
OncewhenwithSylvaneFerrisIspentaboutsixteenhoursononehorse，ridingseventyoreightymiles。Theround-uphadreachedaplacecalledtheox-bowoftheLittleMissouri，andwehadtoridethere，dosomeworkaroundthecattle，andrideback。
AnothertimeIwastwenty-fourhoursonhorsebackincompanywithMerrifieldwithoutchanginghorses。Onthisoccasionwedidnottravelfast。WehadbeencomingbackwiththewagonfromahuntingtripintheBigHornMountains。Theteamwasfaggedout，andweweretiredofwalkingatasnail’spacebesideit。Whenwereachedcountrythatthedriverthoroughlyknew，wethoughtitsafetoleavehim，andwelopedinonenightacrossadistancewhichittookthewagonthethreefollowingdaystocover。Itwasabeautifulmoonlightnight，andtheridewasdelightful。Alldaylongwehadploddedatawalk，wearyandhot。Atsuppertimewehadrestedtwoorthreehours，andthetoughlittleridinghorsesseemedasfreshasever。ItwasinSeptember。Aswerodeoutofthecircleofthefirelight，theairwascoolinourfaces。Underthebrightmoonlight，andthenunderthestarlight，welopedandcanteredmileaftermileoverthehighprairie。Wepassedbandsofantelopeandherdsoflong-hornTexascattle，andatlast，justasthefirstredbeamsofthesunflamedoverthebluffsinfrontofus，werodedownintothevalleyoftheLittleMissouri，whereourranchhousestood。
Ineverbecameagoodroper，normorethananaveragerider，accordingtoranchstandards。Ofcourseamanonaranchhastorideagoodmanybadhorses，andisboundtoencounteracertainnumberofaccidents，andoftheseIhadmyshare，atonetimecrackingarib，andonanotheroccasionthepointofmyshoulder。Wewerehundredsofmilesfromadoctor，andeachtime，asIwasontheround-up，IhadtogetthroughmyworkforthenextfewweeksasbestIcould，untiltheinjuryhealedofitself。WhenIhadtheopportunityIbrokemyownhorses，doingitgentlyandgraduallyandspendingmuchtimeoverit，andchoosingthehorsesthatseemedgentletobeginwith。WiththesehorsesIneverhadanydifficulty。Butfrequentlytherewasneithertimenoropportunitytohandleourmountssoelaborately。Wemightgetabandofhorses，eachhavingbeenbridledandsaddledtwoorthreetimes，butnoneofthemhavingbeenbrokenbeyondtheextentimpliedinthisbridlingandsaddling。Theneachofusinsuccessionwouldchooseahorseforhisstring，Iasowneroftheranchbeinggiventhefirstchoiceoneachround，sotospeak。ThefirsttimeIwaseveronaround-upSylvaneFerris，Merrifield，Meyer，andIeachchosehisstringinthisfashion。ThreeorfouroftheanimalsIgotwerenoteasytoride。TheeffortbothtoridethemandtolookasifIenjoyeddoingso，onsomecoolmorningwhenmygrinningcowboyfriendshadgatheredround“toseewhetherthehigh-headedbaycouldbuckthebossoff。”doubtlesswasofbenefittome，butlackedmuchofbeingenjoyable。ThetimeIsmashedmyribIwasbuckedoffonastone。ThetimeIhurtthepointofmyshoulderIwasridingabig，sulkyhorsenamedBenButler，whichwentoverbackwardswithme。Whenwegotupitstillrefusedtogoanywhere；so，whileIsatit，SylvaneFerrisandGeorgeMeyergottheirropesonitsneckanddraggeditafewhundredyards，chokingbutstubborn，allfourfeetfirmlyplantedandplowingtheground。Whentheyreleasedtheropesitlaydownandwouldn’tgetup。Theround-uphadstarted；soSylvanegavemehishorse，Baldy，whichsometimesbuckedbutneverwentoverbackwards，andhegotonthenowrearisenBenButler。TomydiscomfitureBenstartedquietlybesideus，whileSylvaneremarked，“Why，there’snothingthematterwiththishorse；he’saplumbgentlehorse。”ThenBenfellslightlybehindandIheardSylvaneagain，“That’sallright！Comealong！Here，you！Goon，you！Hi，hi，fellows，helpmeout！he’slyingonme！”Sureenough，hewas；andwhenwedraggedSylvanefromunderhimthefirstthingtherescuedSylvanedidwastoexecuteawar-dance，spursandall，ontheiniquitousBen。Wecoulddonothingwithhimthatday；
subsequentlywegothimsothatwecouldridehim；butheneverbecameanicesaddle-horse。
Aswithallotherformsofwork，soontheround-up，amanofordinarypower，whoneverthelessdoesnotshirkthingsmerelybecausetheyaredisagreeableorirksome，soonearnshisplace。Therewerecrackridersandroperswho，justbecausetheyfeltsuchoverweeningprideintheirownprowess，werenotreallyveryvaluablemen。Continuallyonthecirclesacoworacalfwouldgetintosomethickpatchofbulberrybushandrefusetocomeout；orwhenitwasgettinglatewewouldpasssomebadlandsthatwouldprobablynotcontaincattle，butmight；orasteerwouldturnfightingmad，oracalfgrowtiredandwanttoliedown。Ifinsuchacasethemansteadilypersistsindoingtheunattractivething，andaftertwohoursofexasperationandharassmentdoesfinallygetthecowout，andkeepherout，ofthebulberrybushes，anddriveshertothewagon，orfindssomeanimalsthathavebeenpassedbyinthefourthorfifthpatchofbadlandshehuntsthrough，orgetsthecalfuponhissaddleandtakesitinanyhow，theforemansoongrowstotreathimashavinghisusesandasbeinganassetofworthintheround-up，eventhoughneitherafancyropernorafancyrider。
WhenattheProgressiveConventionlastAugust，ImetGeorgeMeyerforthefirsttimeinmanyyears，andherecalledtomeanincidentononeround-upwherewehappenedtobethrowntogetherwhiledrivingsomecowsandcalvestocamp。Whenthecampwasonlyjustacrosstheriver，twoofthecalvespositivelyrefusedtogoanyfurther。Hetookoneoftheminhisarms，andaftersomehazardousmaneuveringmanagedtogetonhishorse，inspiteoftheobjectionsofthelatter，androdeintotheriver。Mycalfwastoobigforsuchtreatment，soindespairI
ropedit，intendingtodragitover。However，assoonasIropedit，thecalfstartedbouncingandbleating，and，owingtosomelackofdexterityonmypart，suddenlyswungroundtherearofthehorse，bringingtheropeunderhistail。Downwentthetailtight，andthehorse“wentintofigures。”asthecow-puncherphraseofthatdaywas。
Therewasacutbankaboutfourfeethighonthehithersideoftheriver，andoverthisthehorsebucked。Wewentintothewaterwithasplash。Witha“pluck“thecalffollowed，describedaparabolaintheair，andlandedbesideus。Fortunately，thistooktheropeoutfromunderthehorse’stail，butlefthimthoroughlyfrightened。Hecouldnotdomuchbuckinginthestream，fortherewereoneortwoplaceswherewehadtoswim，andtheshallowswereeithersandyormuddy；butacrosswewent，atspeed，andthecalfmadeawakelikePharaoh’sarmyintheRedSea。
Onseveraloccasionswehadtofightfire。Inthegeographybooksofmyyouthprairiefireswerealwaysportrayedastakingplaceinlonggrass，andalllivingthingsranbeforethem。OntheNortherncattleplainsthegrasswasneverlongenoughtobeasourceofdangertomanorbeast。ThefireswerenothingliketheforestfiresintheNorthernwoods。Buttheydestroyedlargequantitiesoffeed，andwehadtostopthemwherepossible。Theprocessweusuallyfollowedwastokillasteer，splititintwolengthwise，andthenhavetworidersdrageachhalf-steer，theropeofonerunningfromhissaddle-horntothefrontleg，andthatoftheothertothehindleg。Oneofthemenwouldspurhishorseoverorthroughthelineoffire，andthetwowouldthenrideforward，draggingthesteerbloodysidedownwardalongthelineofflame，menfollowingonfootwithslickersorwethorse-blankets，tobeatoutanyflickeringblazethatwasstillleft。Itwasexcitingwork，forthefireandthetwitchingandpluckingoftheoxcarcassovertheunevengroundmaddenedthefiercelittlehorsessothatitwasnecessarytodosomeridinginordertokeepthemtotheirwork。
Afterawhileitalsobecameveryexhausting，thethirstandfatiguebeinggreat，as，withparchedlipsandblackenedfromheadtofoot，wetoiledatourtask。
InthoseyearstheStockman’sAssociationofMontanawasapowerfulbody。IwasthedelegatetoitfromtheLittleMissouri。ThemeetingsthatIattendedwereheldinMilesCity，atthattimeatypicalcowtown。Stockmenofallkindsattended，includingthebiggestmeninthestockbusiness，menlikeoldConradKohrs，whowasandisthefinesttypeofpioneerinalltheRockyMountaincountry；andGranvilleStewart，whowasafterwardsappointedMinisterbyCleveland，IthinktotheArgentine；and“Hashknife“Simpson，aTexanwhohadbroughthiscattle，theHashknifebrand，upthetrailintoourcountry。HeandI
grewtobegreatfriends。Icanseehimnowthefirsttimewemet，grinningatmeas，nonetoocomfortable，Isatahalf-brokenhorseattheedgeofacattleherdwewereworking。HissonSloanSimpsonwenttoHarvard，wasoneofthefirst-classmeninmyregiment，andafterwardsheldmycommissionasPostmasteratDallas。
Atthestockmen’smeetinginMilesCity，inadditiontothebigstockmen，therewerealwayshundredsofcowboysgallopingupanddownthewidedustystreetsateveryhourofthedayandnight。Itwasapicturesquesightduringthethreedaysthemeetingslasted。Therewasalwaysatleastonebigdanceatthehotel。Therewerefewdresssuits，buttherewasperfectdecorumatthedance，andinthesquaredancesmostofthemenknewthefiguresfarbetterthanIdid。Withsuchacrowdintown，sleepingaccommodationsofanysortwereatapremium，andinthehotelthereweretwomenineverybed。OnoneoccasionIhadaroommatewhomIneversaw，becausehealwayswenttobedmuchlaterthanIdidandIalwaysgotupmuchearlierthanhedid。Onthelastday，however，heroseatthesametimeandIsawthathewasamanIknewnamedCarter，andnicknamed“Modesty“Carter。Hewasastalwart，good-lookingfellow，andIwassorrywhenlaterI
heardthathehadbeenkilledinashootingrow。
WhenIwentWest，thelastgreatIndianwarshadjustcometoanend，buttherewerestillsporadicoutbreakshereandthere，andoccasionallybandsofmaraudingyoungbraveswereamenacetooutlyingandlonelysettlements。Manyofthewhitemenwerethemselveslawlessandbrutal，andpronetocommitoutragesontheIndians。
Unfortunately，eachracetendedtoholdallthemembersoftheotherraceresponsibleforthemisdeedsofafew，sothatthecrimeofthemiscreant，redorwhite，whocommittedtheoriginaloutragetooofteninvitedretaliationuponentirelyinnocentpeople，andthisactionwouldinitsturnarousebitterfeelingwhichfoundventinstillmoreindiscriminateretaliation。ThefirstyearIwasontheLittleMissourisomeSiouxbucksranoffallthehorsesofabuffalo-hunter’soutfit。Oneofthebuffalo-hunterstriedtogetevenbystealingthehorsesofaCheyennehuntingparty，andwhenpursuedmadeforacowcamp，with，asaresult，along-rangeskirmishbetweenthecowboysandtheCheyennes。Oneofthelatterwaswounded；butthisparticularwoundedmanseemedtohavemoresensethantheotherparticipantsinthechainofwrong-doing，anddiscriminatedamongthewhites。Hecameintoourcampandhadhiswounddressed。
AyearlaterIwasatadesolatelittlemudroadranchontheDeadwoodtrail。Itwaskeptbyaverycapableandveryforcefulwoman，withsoundideasofjusticeandabundantlywellabletoholdherown。Herhusbandwasaworthlessdevil，whofinallygotdrunkonsomewhiskyheobtainedfromanoutfitofMissouribull-whackers——thatis，freighters，drivingoxwagons。Underthestimulusofthewhiskyhepickedaquarrelwithhiswifeandattemptedtobeather。Sheknockedhimdownwithastove-lidlifter，andtheadmiringbull-whackersborehimoff，leavingtheladyinfullpossessionoftheranch。WhenI