ened and the calf
leaped up. Dan then successively picked up any foot designated by the
marshal. "Left hind foot! Right fore foot!" and so on with almost
unerring accuracy. His horse, calm and swift, obeyed every word and
every shift of his rider's body. The crowd cheered, and those who came
after added nothing to the contest.

Mose rode into the inclosure with impassive face. He could only
duplicate the deeds of those who had gone before so long as his work was
governed by the marshal--but when, as in the case of others, he was free
to "put on frills," he did so. Tackling the heaviest and wildest steer,
he dropped his rope over one horn and caught up one foot, then taking a
loose turn about his pommel he spoke to Kintuck. The steer reached the
end of the rope with terrible force. It seemed as if the saddle must
give way--but the strain was cunningly met, and the brute tumbled and
laid flat with a wild bawl. While Kintuck held him Mose took a cigar
from his pocket, bit the end off, struck a match and puffed carelessly
and lazily. It was an old trick, but well done, and the spectators
cheered heartily.

After a few casts of almost equal brilliancy, Mose leaped to the ground
with the rope in his hand, and while Kintuck looked on curiously, he
began a series of movements which one of Delmar's Mexicans had taught
him. With the noose spread wide he kept it whirling in the air as if it
were a hoop. He threw it into the air and sprang through it, he lowered
it to the ground, and leaping into it, flung it far above his head. In
his hand this inert thing developed snakelike action. It took on loops
and scallops and retained them, apparently in defiance of all known laws
of physics--controlled and governed by the easy, almost imperceptible
motions of his steel-like wrist.

"Forty-five dollars more to the good," said Mose grimly as the decision
came in his favor.

"See here--going to take all the prizes?" asked one of the judges.

"So long as you keep to my line of business," replied he.

The races came next. Kintuck took first money on the straightaway dash,
but lost on the long race around the pole. It nearly broke his heart,
but he came in second to Denver Dan's sorrel twice in succession.

Mose patted the old horse and said: "Never mind, old boy, you pulled in
forty dollars more for me."

Reynolds had tears in his eyes as he came up.

"The old hoss cain't compete on the long stretches. He's like a
middle-aged man--a