Arizona Nights
Page 28
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE ROUND-UP
This, as you well may gather, was in the summer routine. Now the timeof the great fall round-up drew near. The home ranch began to bustlein preparation.
All through Cochise County were short mountain ranges set down,apparently at random, like a child's blocks. In and out between themflowed the broad, plain-like valleys. On the valleys were the variousranges, great or small, controlled by the different individuals of theCattlemen's Association. During the year an unimportant, but certain,shifting of stock took place. A few cattle of Senor Johnson's Lazy Yeluded the vigilance of his riders to drift over through the Grant Passand into the ranges of his neighbour; equally, many of the neighbour'ssteers watered daily at Senor Johnson's troughs. It was a matter ofcourtesy to permit this, but one of the reasons for the fall round-upwas a redistribution to the proper ranges. Each cattle-owner sent anoutfit to the scene of labour. The combined outfits moved slowly fromone valley to another, cutting out the strays, branding the latecalves, collecting for the owner of that particular range all hisstock, that he might select his marketable beef. In turn eachcattleman was host to his neighbours and their men.
This year it had been decided to begin the circle of the round-up atthe C 0 Bar, near the banks of the San Pedro. Thence it would workeastward, wandering slowly in north and south deviation, to include allthe country, until the final break-up would occur at the Lazy Y.
The Lazy Y crew was to consist of four men, thirty riding horses, a"chuck wagon," and cook. These, helping others, and receiving help inturn, would suffice, for in the round-up labour was pooled to a commonend. With them would ride Jed Parker, to safeguard his master'sinterests.
For a week the punchers, in their daily rides, gathered in the rangeponies. Senor Johnson owned fifty horses which he maintained at thehome ranch for every-day riding, two hundred broken saddle animals,allowed the freedom of the range, except when special occasion demandedtheir use, and perhaps half a thousand quite unbroken--brood mares,stallions, young horses, broncos, and the like. At this time of yearit was his habit to corral all those saddlewise in order to selecthorses for the round-ups and to replace the ranch animals. The latterhe turned loose for their turn at the freedom of the range.
The horses chosen, next the men turned their attention to outfit. Eachhad, of course, his saddle, spurs, and "rope." Of the latter the chuckwagon carried many extra. That vehicle, furthermore, transported sucharticles as the blankets, the tarpaulins under which to sleep, therunning irons for branding, the cooking layout, and the men's personaleffects. All was in readiness to move for the six weeks' circle, whena complication arose. Jed Parker, while nimbly escaping an irritatedsteer, twisted the high heel of his boot on the corral fence. Heinsisted the injury amounted to nothing. Senor Johnson however,disagreed.
"It don't amount to nothing, Jed," he pronounced, after manipulation,"but she might make a good able-bodied injury with a little coaxing.Rest her a week and then you'll be all right."
"Rest her, the devil!" growled Jed; "who's going to San Pedro?"
"I will, of course," replied the Senor promptly. "Didje think we'd sendthe Chink?"
"I was first cousin to a Yaqui jackass for sendin' young Billy Ellisout. He'll be back in a week. He'd do."
"So'd the President," the Senor pointed out; "I hear he's had someexperience."
"I hate to have you to go," objected Jed. "There's the missis." Heshot a glance sideways at his chief.
"I guess she and I can stand it for a week," scoffed the latter. "Why,we are old married folks by now. Besides, you can take care of her."
"I'll try," said Jed Parker, a little grimly.