t of his own intention, and rolled clear as she came down.

This time she was caught before she could struggle to her feet, and
when at last she stood up she was dazed and shaken, though still
unconquered.

Again Tresler mounted. He was bruised and bleeding, and shaking as
with an ague. And now the mare tried a new move. She bucked; but it
was a running buck, her body twisting and writhing with curious
serpentine undulations, and her body seemed to shrink under his legs
as though the brute were drawing in her whole frame of a settled
purpose. Then, having done enough in this direction, she suddenly
stood, and began to kick violently, with her head stretched low
between her forelegs. And Tresler felt himself sliding, saddle and
all, over her withers! Suddenly the blanket strap failed him. It
cracked and gave, and he shot from the saddle like a new-fired rocket.

And when the mare had been caught again she was without the saddle,
which was now lying close to where her rider had fallen. She had
bucked and kicked herself clean through the still-fastened cinchas.

Tresler was bleeding from nose and ears when he mounted again. The
saddle was cinched up very tight, and the mare herself was so blown
that she was unable to distend herself to resist the pressure. But,
nevertheless, she fought as though a devil possessed her, and,
exhausted, and without the help of the blanket strap, he was thrown
again and again. Five times he fell; and each time, as no bones were
broken, he remounted her. But he was growing helpless.

But the men looking on realized that which was lost upon the rider
himself. The mare was done; she was fairly beaten. The fifth time he
climbed into the saddle her bucks wouldn't have thrown a babe; and
when they beheld this, they, with one accord, shouted to him.

"Say, thrash her, boy! Lace h---- out of her!" roared Jacob.

"Cut her liver out wi' that quirt!" cried Lew.

"Ay, run her till she can't see," added Raw.

And Tresler obeyed mechanically. He was too exhausted to do much; but
he managed to bring the quirt down over her shoulders, until, maddened
with pain, she rose up on her hind legs, gave a mighty bound forward,
and raced away down the trail like a creature possessed.

It was dinner-time when Tresler saw the ranch again. He returned with
the mare jaded and docile. He had recovered from the battle, while she
had scarcely energy enough to put one foot before the other. She was
conquered. To us