plied quietly,
though his blue eyes shone dangerously. "She must be," he went on, as
Jake made no answer, "or you wouldn't give her to me, and point out
that she's been saddled before."

"Kind o' weakenin'?" Jake asked with a sneer.

"No. I was just thinking of my saddle. It will be no use on her; she'd
burst the girths."

"That needn't worry you any. There's a stock saddle there, on the
fence."

"Thank you, I'll ride on a saddle that fits a man of my size, or you
can ride the mare yourself."

Tresler was round and facing his man, and his words came in a tone the
other was unaccustomed to. But Jake kept quite cool while he seemed to
be debating with himself. Then he abruptly turned away with a short,
vicious laugh.

"Guess the 'tenderfoot's' plumb scared to ride her, boys," he called
out to the men, relapsing into the vernacular as he addressed them.
"Any o' you boys lendin' a saddle, or shall we find him a rockin'-hoss
to run around on?"

Tresler fell headlong into the trap. Jake had drawn him with a skill
worthy of a better object.

"If there is anybody scared, I don't think it is I, boys," he said
with a laugh as harsh as Jake's had been. "If one of you will lend me
a man's saddle, I'll break that mare or she'll break me."

Now, Tresler was a very ordinary horseman. He had never in his life
sat a horse that knew the first rudiments of bucking; but at that
moment he would have mounted to the back of any horse, even if his
life were to pay the forfeit next moment. Besides, even in his blind
anger, he realized that this sort of experience must come sooner or
later. "Broncho-busting" would be part of his training. Therefore,
when some one suggested Arizona's saddle--since Arizona was on the
sick list--he jumped at the chance, for that individual was about his
size.

The mare was now on her legs again, and stood ready bridled, while two
men held her with the lariat drawn tight over her windpipe. She stood
as still as a rock, and to judge by the flashing of her eyes, inwardly
raging. They led her out of the corral, and Arizona's saddle was
brought and the stirrups adjusted to Tresler's requirements. She was
taken well clear of the buildings into the open, and Jacob, with the
subtlety and art acquired by long practice in breaking horses,
proceeded to saddle her. Lew and Raw Harris choked her quiet with the
lariat, and though she physically attempted to resent the indignity of
being saddled, the cinchas were d