lively animals, I don't need to tell you the
danger or difficulty of trying to put a rope around their hind legs. But
tying the front feet is easy. Allow about seven inches of rope, then
take a couple of turns around the left fetlock, make a half-hitch and
tie the rest of your rope about the pony's neck.

"Always remember to do that. If you don't, some time the rope end may
catch between the rocks or become tangled in some way and cause
trouble.

"When you stop to rest after a hard ride, always unsaddle, whether you
unbridle or not, and then wipe the dirt and sweat from where the saddle
has been. It rests a pony more than anything you can do.

"At night, when you are on the plains, always use your saddle for a
pillow, then no one can steal it from you.

"Those are the main points. Any special tricks you'll pick up from John
and the boys.

"Oh, there's one more thing: whenever you dismount for any length of
time, pull the reins over the pony's head and either throw them over a
post or else let them drag on the ground. I don't know why it is, but it
seems to make the pony think he is tied."

The lesson over, Bob and Hal remounted and rode on.

At the request of the latter, the boy related his experience at Ford's
ranch. As he did so, the agent looked at him with an expression of
mingled amazement and approval, and as the story was finished,
exclaimed:

"Bob, you sure are a wonder! How you had the nerve to face that dog on
foot, I don't see. Many a man on horseback has been forced to turn and
flee. How did you do it?"

"Oh, I don't know. Just looked him in the eye and spoke to him, that's
all."

But the explanation did not satisfy the agent.

"I don't understand it," he said. "I fully expected to find you lying in
Ford's cabin all chewed up. And here your clothes aren't even torn. I
don't understand it. This is the first time Chester has ever made
friends with anybody. He only minds Ford because he's afraid of him."

CHAPTER XXII

ON THE RANGE STATION

For some time the boy and the man rode in silence, each occupied with
his own thoughts.

"Do you know why Mr. Ford calls the dog Chester?" Bob suddenly asked.

"He had to give him some name, I suppose."

"But it's such a queer name, Hal. I asked him and he wouldn't tell me."

A moment the agent was silent, evidently debating something with
himself, and finally said:

"I suppose you had better know, Bob, that there's something queer about
Jo