Circling them were a number of cowboys on horses.

In the huge corral that spanned a shallow, narrow river, were other cattle.

These were the result of the fall--or beef--round-up.

For a month there had been intense activity in the section.

Half the cattlemen in the county had participated in the round-up that had centered upon Lawler's range, the Circle L: and the cattle had been herded down in the valley because of its natural advantages.
There the herd had been held while the neighboring cattlemen engaged in the tedious task of "cutting out"-- which meant that each cattle owner took from the herd the steers that bore his "brand," with the addition of a proportionate number of unbranded steers, and calves, designated as "mavericks." Then the neighboring outfit had driven their stock home.
"It was a big round-up, Kane," said Mrs.Lawler, watching the herd.
"Eight thousand head," Lawler replied.