free. His sides, however,
were being gripped by a muscular pair of legs, and his head was suddenly
jerked up by a sharp tug at the rein.

"Y-e-e-e-o-w!" greeted the cowboys in their long-drawn, piercing cry.

"Yip!" answered Tad, though more to the pony than in answer to them.

Down went the pony's head between his forward legs, his hind hoofs
beating a tattoo in the air.

The feet came down as suddenly as they had gone up. Instantly the little
animal began a series of stiff-legged leaps into the air, his curving
back making it a very uncomfortable place to sit on.

Tad's head was jerked back and forth until it seemed as though his neck
would be broken.

"Look out for the side jump!" warned the foreman.

It came almost instantly, and with a quickness that nearly unhorsed the
plucky lad.

As it was, the swift leap to the right threw Tad half way over on the
beast's left side. Fortunately, the lad gripped the pommel with his
right hand as he felt himself going, and little by little he pulled
himself once more to an upright posture.

All at once the animal took a leap into the air, coming down headed in
the opposite direction.

Tad's head swam. He no longer heard the shouts of encouragement from the
cowpunchers. He was clinging desperately to his insecure seat, with legs
pressed tightly against the pony's sides. As yet he had not seen fit to
use the rowels.

There came a pause which was almost as disconcerting as had been the
previous rapid movements.

"He's going to throw himself! Don't get caught under him!" bellowed
Big-foot.

Tad was thankful for the suggestion, for he was not looking for that
move at the moment.

The pony struck the ground on its left side with a bump that made the
animal grunt. Tad, however, forewarned, had freed his left foot from the
stirrup and was standing easily over his fallen mount, eyes fixed on the
beast's ears, ready to resume his position at the first sign of a quiver
of those ears.

Like a flash the animal was on its feet again, but with Tad riding in
the saddle, a satisfied smile on his face. Once more the awful,
nerve-racking bucking began. It did not seem as if a human being could
survive that series of violent antics, and least of all a mere boy.

All at once the animal came up on its hind legs.

Tad knew instinctively what it meant. He did not need the warning cry of
the cowpunchers to tell him what the pony was about to do. Over went the
broncho on its back, r