ether we
made our way afoot to the branding pen.

We were the only ones who did go afoot, however, although the corrals
were not more than two hundred yards' distant. When we arrived we
found the string of ponies standing around outside. Between the
upright bars of greasewood we could see the cattle, and near the
opposite side the men building a fire next the fence. We pushed open
the wide gate and entered. The three ropers sat their horses, idly
swinging the loops of their ropes back and forth. Three others brought
wood and arranged it craftily in such manner as to get best draught for
heatin,--a good branding fire is most decidedly a work of art. One
stood waiting for them to finish, a sheaf of long JH stamping irons in
his hand. All the rest squatted on their heels along the fence,
smoking cigarettes and chatting together. The first rays of the sun
slanted across in one great sweep from the remote mountains.

In ten minutes Charley pronounced the irons ready. Homer, Wooden, and
old California John rode in among the cattle. The rest of the men
arose and stretched their legs and advanced. The Cattleman and I
climbed to the top bar of the gate, where we roosted, he with his
tally-book on his knee.

Each rider swung his rope above his head with one hand, keeping the
broad loop open by a skilful turn of the wrist at the end of each
revolution. In a moment Homer leaned forward and threw. As the loop
settled, he jerked sharply upward, exactly as one would strike to hook
a big fish. This tightened the loop and prevented it from slipping
off. Immediately, and without waiting to ascertain the result of the
manoeuvre, the horse turned and began methodically, without undue
haste, to walk toward the branding fire. Homer wrapped the rope twice
or thrice about the horn, and sat over in one stirrup to avoid the
tightened line and to preserve the balance. Nobody paid any attention
to the calf. The critter had been caught by the two hind legs. As the
rope tightened, he was suddenly upset, and before he could realise that
something disagreeable was happening, he was sliding majestically along
on his belly. Behind him followed his anxious mother, her head
swinging from side to side.

Near the fire the horse stopped. The two "bull-doggers" immediately
pounced upon the victim. It was promptly flopped over on its right
side. One knelt on its head and twisted back its foreleg in a sort of
hammer-lock; the other s