The earlier cattlemen in the North--those who ranged their stock on the Platte and the various forks of the Loup River--made great profits. Yet as time went on they saw competition constantly growing sharper and ranges being overstocked. As the news of their profits drifted eastward many young men, allured by the romance of the cowboy's life, and ignorant of its actual conditions, came into the cattle country. These believed that success with cattle was to be attained by riding about and watching the cattle increase and grow, and shipping them to market when they had grown. They were glad to be interested in a business at once so agreeable and so profitable; and many a one exchanged his money for a herd, a brand and some log buildings, and rode over the range awaiting the advent of his riches. Many of the early cattlemen sold their herds to the newcomers, who, somewhat later, discovered that with the cattle they had bought also much experience. These changes were in operation when Jack entered on his cowboy life. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE TRAGEDY AT POWELL'S 1 II A ROBBER TURNED LOOSE 13 III TO THE ROUND-UP CAMP 24 IV OLD FRIENDS 34 V CUTTING AND BRANDING 42 VI RIDING CIRCLE 55 VII A BULL FIGHT 66 VIII A BUFFALO STORY 78 IX VICENTE, COWHAND 88 X THE FENCELESS LAND 98 XI TANNING A BUCKSKIN 110 XII INDIAN STORIES 120 XIII BIG WOLVES 133 XIV A BAD MAN 144 XV AN ENGLISHMAN IN CAMP 155 XVI A LESSON IN ROPING 165 XVII DRIFTING 176 XVIII A STAMPEDE 187 XIX COW HORSES AND THEIR WORK 200 XX ROPING A BEAR 211 XXI A CALIFORNIA BEAR HUNT 221 XXII HUNTING WITH A SIX-SHOOTER 230 XXIII A LOAD OF MEAT 240 XXIV FLAGGING AN ANTELOPE 252 XXV THE DANCE AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 266 ILLUSTRATIONS Cowboy starting for the round-up camp _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE "The cow started straight off over the prairie" 48 Branding in the corral 170 Gentling a wild one 250 JACK, THE YOUNG COWBOY CHAPTER I