BRANDS

  [Illustration:] Bar X bar.

  [Illustration:] Ohio.

  [Illustration:] Barb wire.

  [Illustration:] Hat.

  [Illustration:] Apple.

  [Illustration:] Diamond tail.

  [Illustration:] Iowa.

  [Illustration:] Johnson & Hosmer

  [Illustration:] United States.[1]

  [Illustration:] “Sold."[1]

  [Illustration:] Dead tree.

  [Illustration:] Tin cup.

  [Illustration:] Snake.

  [Illustration:] Bar Z bar.

  [Illustration:] Running W.

  [Illustration:] Three circle.

  [Illustration:] Two bars.

  [Illustration:] Broken arrow.

  [Illustration:] Four D.

  [Illustration:] Turkey track.

  [Illustration:] Owned by “Barbecue” Campbell.

  [Illustration:] L.X.

  [Illustration:] “Inspected and condemned."[1]

  [Illustration:] Spade.

  [Illustration:] Flower pot.

  [Illustration:] Frying pan.

  [Illustration:] Laurel leaf.

  [Illustration:] X bar two.

[Footnote 1:  These three belong to the United States Government.]

CATTLE BRANDS

I

DRIFTING NORTH

It was a wet, bad year on the Old Western Trail.  From Red River north and all along was herd after herd waterbound by high water in the rivers.  Our outfit lay over nearly a week on the South Canadian, but we were not alone, for there were five other herds waiting for the river to go down.  This river had tumbled over her banks for several days, and the driftwood that was coming down would have made it dangerous swimming for cattle.

We were expected to arrive in Dodge early in June, but when we reached the North Fork of the Canadian, we were two weeks behind time.

Old George Carter, the owner of the herd, was growing very impatient about us, for he had had no word from us after we had crossed Red River at Doan’s crossing.  Other cowmen lying around Dodge, who had herds on the trail, could hear nothing from their men, but in their experience and confidence in their outfits guessed the cause—­it was water.  Our surprise when we came opposite Camp Supply to have Carter and a stranger ride out to meet us was not to be measured.  They had got impatient waiting, and had taken the mail buckboard to Supply, making inquiries along the route for the Hat herd, which had not passed up the trail, so they were assured.  Carter was so impatient that he could not wait, as he had a prospective buyer on his hands, and the delay in the appearing of the herd was very annoying to him.  Old George was as tickled as a little boy to meet us all.