d the reins and tried to keep him still, as he danced about,
while Hil, with one hand gripping the colt's ear and the other on the
saddle, stood watching her chance. The instant the slightest weight was
put on the saddle, up went the horse in the air. Hil leaned heavily on
him several times, and then stood aside till the colt began to become
cunning and stood perfectly still the next time she leant upon the
saddle. Hil seeing her chance leapt into the saddle, grasped the reins,
and fixed her feet in the stirrup-irons in an instant. The colt was
looked upon as a champion bucker, and he deserved the honour, for rising
into the air with all four feet off the ground, he gave a twitch that
must have dislodged most riders, but Hil and the horse were one. After
bucking and pigging all he knew, without succeeding in upsetting his
rider, the wary animal tried a new dodge. He reared suddenly and fell
back, trying to crush his rider, but Hil was on the alert, for few knew
the ways of buck-jumpers more thoroughly and, as the horse came down,
she coolly stepped on one side, and was on his back again the instant he
had recovered himself. That was too much for the obstreperous animal; he
knew he was conquered and gave in to the inevitable, allowing himself to
be handled and put through his paces with suspicious docility.

"I'll trouble you for the stakes," said May, pocketing fifteen pounds.

"I want five from you, sir," said Hil. "Thank you. Now then, boys, if
you will come over to the pub we'll blue this fiver."

They adjourned to the public-house and had drinks round. Hil, turning to
the auctioneer, said:

"I'll tell you what it is, boss. I'd not take ten times what I gave for
him. Mark my word, you'll hear something of that colt some day."

"Well, I don't mind losing my fiver at any rate, for you certainly have
earned it. That colt has been looked on as a terror to the
neighbourhood. Nobody would have him at a gift, and it was only because
you looked like a new chum that I ran him in."

"I'm very glad you did. Can you fix us up with a couple of saddles and
bridles."

"Certainly. Come on over here."

Saddles and bridles were bought and put on their new purchases. Then the
girls rode their horses to the hotel stables, where they were putting
up. They groomed and fed them themselves, and went off to purchase a
stock of provisions and a small tent. These were all rolled in a blanket
and fixed to the front of each saddle; quart