a comparatively soft pack, the common Square Hitch holds well
enough and is quickly made. For a load of small articles and heavy
alforjas there is nothing like the Lone Packer. It too is a bit hard
to learn. Chiefly is it valuable because the last pulls draw the
alforjas away from the horse's sides, thus preventing their chafing
him. Of the many hitches that remain, you need learn, to complete your
list for all practical purposes, only the Bucking Hitch. It is
complicated, and takes time and patience to throw, but it is warranted
to hold your deck-load through the most violent storms bronco ingenuity
can stir up.

These four will be enough. Learn to throw them, and take pains always
to throw them good and tight. A loose pack is the best expedient the
enemy of your soul could possibly devise. It always turns or comes to
pieces on the edge of things; and then you will spend the rest of the
morning trailing a wildly bucking horse by the burst and scattered
articles of camp duffle. It is furthermore your exhilarating task,
after you have caught him, to take stock, and spend most of the
afternoon looking for what your first search passed by. Wes and I once
hunted two hours for as large an object as a Dutch oven. After which
you can repack. This time you will snug things down. You should have
done so in the beginning.

Next, the lead-ropes are made fast to the top of the packs. There is
here to be learned a certain knot. In case of trouble you can reach
from your saddle and jerk the whole thing free by a single pull on a
loose end.

All is now ready. You take a last look around to see that nothing has
been left. One of the horsemen starts on ahead. The pack-horses swing
in behind. We soon accustomed ours to recognize the whistling of "Boots
and Saddles" as a signal for the advance. Another horseman brings up
the rear. The day's journey has begun.

To one used to pleasure-riding the affair seems almost too deliberate.
The leader plods steadily, stopping from time to time to rest on the
steep slopes. The others string out in a leisurely procession. It does
no good to hurry. The horses will of their own accord stay in sight of
one another, and constant nagging to keep the rear closed up only
worries them without accomplishing any valuable result. In going
uphill especially, let the train take its time. Each animal is likely
to have his own ideas about when and where to rest. If he does,
respect them. S