What were the cowboys really doing? Cowboy (eng. cowboy, from | science2O21

What were the cowboys really doing?

Cowboy (eng. cowboy, from cow — "cow" and boy - "guy") - that's what cattle herders were called in the Wild West. Cowboys worked for people who raised cattle and were engaged in detouring the ranch territory, repairing fences, searching for stray cows, branding young animals and many others. Cowboys also drove cattle across the desert prairies, in which it was always possible to stumble upon Indians or white bandits. During the drive, cowboys surrounded the herd with a ring and made sure that not a single cow strayed from the general mass. 

For some reason, I was sure that they were protecting trains with gold from bandits and Indians. How stupid I was.