ing-post in the center.

While this is going on, Bud has laid out his cow-saddle, single-rigged,
his quirt, and pieces of grass rope for cross-hobbling.

"Ready, Bud?" asks Sage-brush.

"Yep," he replies, as he drops into the corral.

Bud adjusts the hondo and loop of his lariat, keeping his eye on the
circling horses, and picking out his first victim. The rope snakes
through the air, and falls over the head of a pony. Leaping, bucking,
striking with his hoofs at the rope about his neck, the horse fights
and snorts. As the rope tightens, shutting off his wind, he plunges
less viciously.

Bud, with the help of Fresno and Show Low, takes a turn about the
snubbing-post, easing up the rope to prevent the horse from breaking
his neck when he falls.

The pony, with braced feet, hauls on the lariat, until choking, it
throws itself. Bud in a twinkling has his knee on the bronco's neck.
Grasping the under jaw, he throws the head up in the air until the nose
points skyward. The turn is slipped from the post, and the noose is
slackened and pulled like a bridle over the animal's head, to be
fastened curbwise to his under jaw. Stunned and choked, the horse
fights for breath, giving Bud time to hobble his front feet and bridle
it. Bud jumps aside as the bronco struggles to his feet. But every
move of the beast to free itself results in a fall.

Meantime the hind foot has been noosed and fastened to the one in
front. Bud has cross-hobbled the horse, preparing it for the saddle
and the second lesson. Holding the pony by the reins and rope, Bud,
after many failures, throws a saddle-blanket across its back. With one
hand he must also toss a forty-pound saddle into place. Every move Bud
makes is fought by the bronco, every touch of blanket resented. With
his free hand, Bud must now slip the latigo strap through the
cinch-ring. Dodging, twisting, struggling, covered with sweat, the
horse foils Bud's quick movements. Finally he succeeds, and with one
tight jerk the saddle is in place.

No time to think is given the beast. Fresno and Show Low remove the
hobbles, but Bud is twisting an ear to distract its attention. This
new torture must be met with a new defense, and the horse is so dazed
that it stands still to puzzle out the problem.

This is what Bud has been waiting for. With the agility of a cat, he
swings himself into the saddle. The pony arches its back like a
bow-string, every muscle taut.

Bud jerks the