te ends of the ground. At the signal, which will be a pistol
shot, they will mount and ride with the center rope between them. Upon
meeting"--he stopped long enough for a quick smile--"they will try what
they can do. If both miss, they will coil their riatas and hang them
from the horn, and ride on to the end; there they will dismount and wait
for the second signal for starting.

"They will repeat these maneuvers until the contest is decided, one way
or the other, but at no time will they start before the signal is given.

"Remember, no one else will be permitted inside the line, at any time;
also, neither of the contestants may pass the dividing line unless he
has the other at his mercy--when--he may cross if he chooses." It cost
Dade something, that last sentence, but he said it firmly; repeated the
rules more briefly in English and rode out of the square, a vaquero
slackening the first riata of the line to leave a space for him to pass.
And as he went, there was nothing in his manner to show how ticklish he
felt the situation to be.

Only, when he came upon Jack, just riding out from the stable upon
Surry, his lips drew tight and thin. But he merely waved his hand and
went on to tell Jose that he wanted Manuel to give the signals, for then
all would be sure that there would be no unfairness.

He was gone perhaps two minutes; yet when he returned with Manuel
glowering beside him, that fenced area was lined four deep with horsemen
all around; and so had they segregated themselves instinctively, friend
with friend, that the northern side was a mass of bright colors to show
that there stood the Spanish caballeros; and opposite them, a more
motley showing and yet a more sinister one, stood the Americanos, with
Bill Wilson pressed against the rope half-way down the line, and beside
him big Jerry Simpson, lounging upon Moll, his black mule.

Instinctively, Dade rode around to them, beckoning Manuel to follow; and
placed him between Jerry and Bill; explained that Manuel was to fire the
starting signals, and smiled his thanks when Jerry promptly produced one
of his "twins" and placed it in Manuel's hands.

"P'int her nose in the air, mister, when you turn her loose," he advised
solemnly. "She's loaded fur b'ar!"

"Keep your eyes open," Dade warned Bill Wilson when he turned to ride
back; and Bill nodded understandingly. Bill, for that matter, usually
did keep his eyes open, and to such purpose that nothing escaped them.