it
done.

It was so unmanageable, a cowboy had at last to lasso it with a lariat
and throw it down. While two or three men kept it prostrate, the
others quickly put on a saddle and bridle, and strapped the 'cinches,'
or girths, up tight. The cowboy who was to ride the colt then gave a
signal. The men let the animal struggle to its feet, and before it was
aware, the youth with a quick bound was seated in the saddle.

Then began a terrible fight between the man and the horse. The latter
tried to get its head down between its fore-legs, arching up its back
and bucking wildly about, trying to unseat its rider, who, however, sat
firm as a rock, holding the reins tight. After the horse had plunged
and reared for some time, the bars of the corral were let down, and the
cowboy worked the refractory steed towards this opening and out on the
prairie. Here the animal made a fresh fight for victory; and, as if
inspired to try another method to get free of its unwelcome burden, it
suddenly darted away full gallop across the plain. They thundered
along for miles, the rider quite powerless to check the runaway, nor
did he wish to. He let the horse go, and at last it began to weary,
and, of its own accord, lessened its speed. Slower and slower it went,
until it would have stopped altogether, if the cowboy had permitted it.
But this was his opportunity to show he was master, and accordingly he
kept the colt going on; and when at last he turned its head towards
home and trotted it back to the corral, its sweat-stained coat and
drooping tail showed that the victory was won and the wild spirit
subdued. As it carried the cowboy quietly enough up to the waiting
group of spectators, they knew that the worst was over, and the colt,
after such a struggle, would never give the same trouble again.

Jack was very happy at the ranch, as everyone took an interest in such
a little traveller and was good to him. Mr. Stuart made him wild with
pleasure, as he said he would like to do Steve Byrne a good turn for
his kindness, and intended to write on the chance of his coming to
Longview, and offer to make him one of his cowboys. Jack knew Steve
would like nothing better, and it pleased him to think that his
good-natured cousin would benefit through him.

Jack had been only three days with the Stuarts, when one evening a
strange-looking vehicle, called a buckboard, drawn by an old white
mule, approached the ranch, and a tall, wiry old man