He had found that men might growl at being treated "like dogs" but to rowel the human soul it was far better to act as though they did not exist at all.
"Command"
William McFee
And so, not unlike one who had come to the conclusion that it was indeed a farewell, he waved his hand resignedly in the direction that the stage had taken and, calling to his vaquero, he gave his horse a thrust of the long rowel of his spur and galloped off towards the foothills of the Sierras.
"The Girl of the Golden West"
David Belasco
An examination showed the slide of a spur-rowel behind one heel-mark and indications of a hasty jump.
"Nan of Music Mountain"
Frank H. Spearman