lbert. "We'll see who will be master."

[Illustration: "Is that your game?" said Gilbert. "We'll see who will
be master."--Page 221.]

He sawed away at the horse's mouth with no mercy. Bucephalus was
enraged. He could hardly understand the presumption of the rider, who
was daring enough to defy him to his worst. He was accustomed to
inspire fear in his rider, and his spirit was up. He indulged in worse
antics, when he was astonished and maddened by a terrible lashing from
the whip in Gilbert's hand.

He started off like a shot at a break-neck speed down the road which
Gilbert wanted him to take. In his fury he was not probably aware that
he had yielded that point to his master. On he rushed with the speed of
lightning. Terror-struck, Jasper, sitting still on his own horse,
followed him with his glance. He saw Gilbert, immovable as a rock,
keeping his seat on the maddened steed, never for a moment losing
courage or self-possession. He was astonished, but he could not help
feeling admiration also.

"He rides magnificently," he said to himself. "Who would have supposed
that he could manage that brute?"

But there was one thing that Jasper did not know--which I have not yet
imparted to the reader. Gilbert had taken lessons of Rarey, the famous
horse-tamer, and that gave him a wonderful advantage. Feeling firm in
his seat, he let Bucephalus continue his break-neck speed till his
beating sides and labored breath showed that he was exhausted. Then
turning him unresisting he rode back. After a while he met Jasper. The
latter could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the fierce steed cowed
and subdued, while his cousin seemed perfectly cool and composed.

"Thank Heaven, you are safe!" ejaculated Jasper, hypocritically. "I was
very much alarmed about you."

"I have given Bucephalus a lesson," said Gilbert, quietly. "I will ride
him again to-morrow. I think he is thoroughly subdued now. Did he ever
act in this way when you rode him?"

"No," answered Jasper. "I don't see what got into him to-day. You rode
him splendidly," he felt forced to add.

"I am not afraid of horses," said Gilbert, quietly. "But suppose we
turn back. I think he has had enough for one day."

CHAPTER XXXII.

AN UNWELCOME RETURN.

"I wish I know'd the boy would come to no harm," thought John, the
coachman. "What made Master Jasper so anxious to have him ride the ugly
brute? He wouldn't trust his own neck, but maybe it makes a difference
w