The packing of the buckboard was a business calling for some skill.
In the box seat were stowed away groceries and small parcels for
the ranch and for settlers along the trail. Upon the boards behind
the seat were loaded and roped securely, sides of pork, a sack of
flour, and various articles for domestic use. Last of all, and with
great care, French disposed a mysterious case packed with straw,
the contents of which were perfectly well known to the boy.

The buckboard packed, there followed the process of hitching up,
--a process at once spectacular and full of exciting incident, for
the trip to the Crossing was to the bronchos, unbroken even to the
halter, their first experience in the ways of civilized man. Wild,
timid and fiercely vicious, they were brought in from their night
pickets on a rope, holding back hard, plunging, snorting, in terror,
and were tied up securely in an out shed. There was no time spent
in gentle persuasion. French took a collar and without hesitation,
but without haste, walked quietly to the side of one of the
shuddering ponies, a buckskin, and paying no heed to its frantic
plunging, slipped it over his neck, keeping close to the pony's
side and crowding it hard against the wall. The rest of the
harness offered more difficulty. The pony went wild at every
approach of the trailing straps and buckles. Kalman looked on
in admiration while French, without loss of temper, without oath
or objurgation, went on quietly with his work.

"Have to put a hitch on him, Jimmy, I guess," said French after
he had failed in repeated attempts.

Jimmy took a thin strong line of rope, put a running noose around
the pony's jaw, threw the end over its neck and back through the
noose again, thus making a most cruel bridle, and gave the rope
a single sharp jerk. The broncho fell back upon its haunches, and
before it had recovered from its pain and surprise, French had the
harness on its back and buckled into place.

The second pony, a piebald or pinto, needed no "Commache hitch,"
but submitted to the harnessing process without any great protest.

"Bring him along, Jimmy," said French, leading out the pinto.

But this was easier said than done, for the buckskin after being
faced toward the door, set his feet firmly in front of him and
refused to budge an inch.

"Touch him up behind, boy," said Green to Kalman, who stood by
eager to assist.

Kalman sprang forward with a stick in his hand, dodged under the