alvanized action.
The back humped. It shot into the air with a writhing twist of the
body. All four feet struck the ground together, straight and stiff as
fence posts.

The girl's head jerked forward as though it were on a hinge. The
outlaw went sunfishing, its forefeet almost straight up. She was still
in the saddle when it came to all fours again. A series of jarring
bucks, each ending with the force of a pile-driver as Wild Fire's hoofs
struck earth, varied the programme. The rider came down limp, half in
the saddle, half out, righting herself as the horse settled for the
next leap. But not once did her hands reach for the pommel of the
saddle to steady her.

Pitching and bucking, the animal humped forward to the fence.

"Look out!" a judge yelled.

It was too late. The rider could not deflect her mount. Into the
fence went Wild Fire blindly and furiously. The girl threw up her leg
to keep it from being jammed. Up went the bronco again before Wild
Rose could find the stirrup. She knew she was gone, felt herself
shooting forward. She struck the ground close to the horse's hoofs.
Wild Fire lunged at her. A bolt of pain like a red-hot iron seared
through her.

Through the air a rope whined. It settled over the head of the outlaw
and instantly was jerked tight. Wild Fire, coming down hard for a
second lunge at the green crumpled heap underfoot, was dragged sharply
sideways. Another lariat snaked forward and fell true.

"Here, Cole!" The first roper thrust the taut line into the hands of a
puncher who had run forward. He himself dived for the still girl
beneath the hoofs of the rearing horse. Catching her by the arms, he
dragged her out of danger. She was unconscious.

The cowboy picked her up and carried her to the waiting ambulance. The
closed eyes flickered open. A puzzled little frown rested in them.

"What's up, Kirby?" asked Wild Rose.

"You had a spill."

"Took the dust, did I?" He sensed the disappointment in her voice.

"You rode fine. He jammed you into the fence," explained the young man.

The doctor examined her. The right arm hung limp.

"Broken, I'm afraid," he said.

"Ever see such luck?" the girl complained to Lane.

"Probably they won't let me ride in the wild-horse race now."

"No chance, young lady," the doctor said promptly. "I'm going to take
you right to the hospital."

"I might get back in time," she said hopefully.

"You might, but you won't."

"O