mooth, glossy back and rode him, first on
one foot, then on the other. Next he sat down on the animal again and
clapped his hands.

"Panchito, my boots!" he ordered. But Panchito only pinned his ears
and shook his head. "You see," Farrel called to Kay, "he is a
gentleman, and declines to perform a menial service. But I shall force
him. Panchito, you rebel, pick up my boots and hand them to me."

For answer, Panchito threw his hind end aloft half a dozen times, and
Kay's silvery laugh echoed through the corral as Farrel, appearing to
lose his seat, slid forward on the horse's withers and clung with arms
and legs round Panchito's neck, emulating terror. Thereupon, Panchito
stood up on his hind legs, and Farrel, making futile clutchings at the
horse's mane, slid helplessly back; over his mount's glossy rump and
sat down rather solidly in the dust of the corral.

"Bravo!" the girl cried. "Why, he's a circus horse!"

"I've schooled him a little for trick riding at rodeos, Miss Parker.
We've carried off many a prize, and when I dress in the motley of a
clown and pretend to ride him rough and do that silly slide, most
people enjoy it."

Farrel got up, recovered his boots, and put them on.

"He'll do, the old humorist," he announced, as he joined her. "He
hasn't forgotten anything, and wasn't he glad to see me again? You use
an English saddle, I dare say, and ride with a short stirrup?"

Panchito dutifully followed like a dog at heel to the tack-room, where
Farrel saddled him and carefully fitted the bridle with the
snaffle-bit. Following a commanding slap on the fore leg, the
intelligent animal knelt for Kay to mount him, after which, Farrel
adjusted the stirrup leathers for her.

In the meantime, Pablo was saddling a splendid, big dappled-gray
gelding.

"One of the best roping-horses in California, and very fast for half a
mile. He's half thoroughbred," Farrel explained. "He was my father's
mount." He caressed the gray's head. "Do you miss him, Bob,
old-timer?" he queried.

Kay observed her companion's saddle. It was of black, hand-carved
leather, with sterling-silver trimmings and long _tapaderas_--a saddle
to thrill every drop of the Castilian blood that flowed in the veins of
its owner. The bridle was of finely plaited rawhide, with fancy
sliding knots, a silver Spanish bit, and single reins of silver-link
chain and plaited rawhide. At the pommel hung coiled a well-worn
rawhide riata.

When