he tipped saddle. It was a most
precarious position, for if the saddle slipped farther he would go under
and be trampled and kicked to death before any one could reach him.

The powerful brute was bent on Ted's destruction, and seemed about to
accomplish it, when Stella galloped to his side, and, grasping his hand,
held him safe.

"The cinch is off," she called to him. "I'll help you up, then kick the
saddle loose."

Slowly but surely Ted worked himself up until he could release his foot
from the stirrup. Then, with a sudden wrench that almost pulled Stella
to the ground, he was again on top. With a kick he sent the saddle to
the ground, and was riding bareback, while the brute stumbled and
almost went to his knees as the saddle fell between his legs.

But now Ted took charge of the situation. With quirt and spur he drove
the beast here and there, punishing it, giving it no rest, allowing it
to do nothing in its own way until it staggered and heaved and swayed
with fatigue and lack of breath, and yet he urged it.

"He'll kill that horse yet," said Billy Sudden.

"No, he knows what that horse will stand, and he's going to make him
stand it," said Bud.

The people had never seen such riding as this, and when they realized
that Ted had conquered the stallion and was now rubbing it in, they
shouted until their throats cracked.

At last the horse could go no farther, and Ted let it stop, as he
slipped to the ground and gave the brute a slap with his hand.

"I reckon you'll know better next time, old fellow," was all he said,
and walked to where his saddle was lying.

As he picked it up, he was seen to stop and look at the cinch carefully,
then hurry to where the boys were awaiting him.

"Fellows," he said solemnly, throwing the saddle on the ground, "that
cinch did not break, it was cut."

A dozen of the boys leaped to the ground and examined the cinch.

It was true. The cinch had been cut almost through with a sharp knife,
and the strain upon it had parted it. There could be no doubt as to what
had been intended.

As Stella came riding up, she shouted:

"The cinch was cut. I saw it. Wiley Creviss did it. I didn't realize at
the time what he was doing or know that it was Ted's saddle, and when I
did find out, he was mounted and away."

A howl of indignation went up at this.

"Scatter out, boys, and round up Creviss," shouted Billy Sudden. "We
know what to do with him when he's caught."

Ted's adventure