The way the cattle were worked was thus.

The spring round-up began in March, far down the river, and slowly worked north to our range.

Our wagon, one of many more, would join the work some 110 miles south of our range, but I sent individual men to much greater distances.
The work continued slowly through the range, branding the spring calves, and each outfit separating its own cattle and driving its own herd.
Twelve or more wagons meant some 300 riders and about 3000 saddle horses.

So the operation was done on a grand scale; thousands of cattle were handled every day, and altogether such a big round-up was a very busy and interesting scene.

Intricate and complicated work it was, too, though not perhaps apparent to an outsider; but under a good round-up boss, who was placed over the bosses of all the wagons, it was wonderful how smoothly the work went on.