Page:A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879).djvu/169

 141 bridle for my proposed journey of 600 miles. I was somewhat dismayed, but there was no other course, as the money was gone. I tried a horse, mended my clothes, reduced my pack to a weight of twelve pounds, and was all ready for an early start, when before day-light I was wakened by Evans's cheery voice at my door. "I say, Miss B., we've got to drive wild cattle to-day; I wish you'd lend a hand, there's not enough of us; I'll give you a good horse; one day won't make much difference." So we've been driving cattle all day, riding about twenty miles, and fording the Big Thompson about as many times. Evans flatters me by saying that I am "as much use as another man;" more than one of our party, I hope, who always avoided the "ugly" cows.

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I am still here, helping in the kitchen, driving cattle, and riding four or five times a day. Evans detains me each morning by saying, "Here's lots of horses for you to try," and after trying five or six a day, I do not find one to my liking. To-day, as I was cantering a tall well-bred one round the lake, he threw the bridle off by a toss of his head, leaving me with the reins in my hands; one bucked, and two have tender feet, and tumbled down. Such are some of our little varieties. Still I hope to get