In the 1880s, during the days of the open range, many roundup outfits worked this country. The spring roundup gathered cattle to brand and tally the calf crop, and the fall roundup gathered beef critters for shipping. An outfit consisted of the captain, the riders, the reps from neighboring ranges, the cavvy or horse herd in charge of the day herder and nigh hawk, the four-horse chuck wagon piloted by the cook, and the bed wagon driven by his flunky. Camp moved each day. In the morning, cowboys rode circle, combing the breaks and coulees for cattle and heading them toward the central point to form a herd. During spring roundup afternoons, guards kept the herd together, cutters split out the cows with calves, ropers threw loops on the calves, took a couple of dally welts around the saddle horn, and dragged them to the fire. There calf wrestlers flanked and flopped them, and the brander marked them with ear notches, or dew laps, and a hot iron. It was not all sunshine and roses.