hem. Captain Shirril was seated motionless on his steed,
several hundred yards distant, and, if the steer decided for a moment in
his own mind that he was the individual he was looking for, he must have
been puzzled to know how it was his horse traveled so far in such an
amazingly brief space of time.

The sound of hoofs caused the animal to look on the other side of him,
where, sure enough, only a short distance off was the identical
offender, calmly surveying him as if plotting further mischief.

Instantly the head of the steer dropped again, and he was in the act of
charging with the same impetuosity as before, when he changed his mind,
and, instead of becoming a pursuer, resumed the character of a
fugitive.

CHAPTER XXIX.

OLD ACQUAINTANCES.

Without hesitation the mustang was after the stubborn steer again,
showing less fear than before, though he maintained a sharp lookout
against a repetition of the attack. It may have been that the dexterous
manner in which he had just eluded the brute gave him self-confidence,
as it weakened that of the fugitive without lessening his obduracy, for
he took care that the line of his flight led straight away from his own
herd.

With the same care Thunderbolt began edging up, and, in a brief while,
his head was abreast of the haunch of the steer, and steadily gaining.
Avon now leaned over the right shoulder of his mustang, and reaching
forward and downward, seized the tail of the steer, and in a flash
twisted all that was sufficiently flexible around the horn of his
saddle. At the same instant he called sharply to Thunderbolt, who made a
vicious bound to the left, and the steer, with a short bellow of pain,
went down with fearful violence.

But he was not yet conquered. As full of energy and obstinacy as ever,
he seemed to leap to his feet as if made of rubber, but without
attempting to resent the indignity he had suffered, he continued his
impetuous flight.

The brief interval had given Avon time in which to uncoil his rope.
Instead of flinging it over the horns of the steer he dexterously caught
the loop around one of his hind legs, and jerked it taut with the
quickness of lightning. Down went the animal again, kicking and
bellowing and struggling hard to regain his feet.

The youth allowed him to succeed, when, with the help of the mustang, he
was thrown again. This was repeated several times, until it was apparent
that the captive was subdued. Finally, after