Pagina 298 de 439

Once only he was in danger, and that because Rocking Horse flung

furiously against the wheel of a wagon and ground the rider's leg

till he grew dizzy with the pain. For an instant he caught at the

saddle horn to steady himself as the roan bucked into the open

again.

"He's pulling leather!" some one shouted.

"Shut up, you goat!" advised the Texan good-naturedly. "Can't you

see his laig got jammed till he's groggy? Wonder is, he didn't

take the dust! They don't raise better riders than he is."

"By hockey! He's all in. Look out! Jed's falling," France cried,

running forward.

It looked so for a moment, then Jed swam back to clear

consciousness again, and waved them back. He began to use his

quirt without mercy.

"Might know he'd game it out," remarked Yorky.

He did. It was a long fight, and the horse was flecked with

bloody foam before its spirit and strength failed. But the man in

the saddle kept his seat till the victory was won.