Stella nodded.

“I wuz lookin’ fer a bunch o’ cow hosses.  We sold a big run o’ ’em ter a Newbrasky cowman who was short o’ saddle stock, an’ who said he’d heard we had the best-broke cow ponies in ther West, an’ I reckon we had.  He was willin’ ter pay a good price fer our spare stock, an’ we unloaded.”

“Then you will have to break in a lot of new ones.  Isn’t that a waste of time?”

“Young woman, we’re ranchmen, not rockin’-chair gents.  It’s part o’ our business ter take somethin’ what ain’t much good, an’ make it better.  That’s the way we earn our bread an’ bacon.”

“So I see.”

“Ted says ter me ter go up inter Montana an’ pick up a lot o’ good, gingery hosses, an’ I struck John Stallings.  He says ter me, when I made my wants known, ‘Go out on ther range an’ he’p yerself,’ says he.  ‘They’re all mine, an’ Ted Strong an’ his boys kin hev anythin’ I’ve got except my fam’ly.  But,’ says he, ’you’ll find some purty lively stock out there.’”

“Well, you did,” said Stella, laughing.

“I reckon I picked out ther orneriest hosses in the whole West, an’ I’m savin’ them fer some o’ these Smart-aleck cowboys who’ll be here from ther ranches round, who think they kin ride,” and he winked wisely.

“Gracious, look there!” she cried.  “What’s Ted trying to do.  He’ll be hurt, Bud.”

“No, I reckon not, but I’ll git in thar handy ter help him if he needs it.  Keep the kid outer ther way if that bunch breaks.”

Ted had done what none of the others had succeeded in doing.

He had forced his way into the very center of the bunch of wild horses, wheeling and doubling and riding like a circus performer, to avoid the batteries of flying heels, until he was close to the wicked black stallion, which was all that held the bunch together and prevented it from being broken up and driven to the upper end of the ranch, where it belonged.

There was not a moment when he was not in danger.  A chance kick might break his leg, or bring down his horse, in which event he must be kicked to death or badly hurt by being trampled on.

But so far they had not been able to reach him.

“Be careful, Ted,” cried Stella.

He waved his hand at her with a smile, and she hurried Lilian beyond the reach of danger.

Ted wheeled his horse to face the black brute, which stood looking at him with wicked eyes, its ears flattened like those of a panther.  In spite of its evil temper Ted admired it for its lithe beauty.  It was as clean of limb as a thoroughbred, and its black skin shone like polished ebony.  While he was looking at it thus it suddenly sprang at him, reared on its hind legs, striking at him like a boxer.  Had he not wheeled on the instant it would have killed him.  Ted was thoroughly angry, and went to the attack himself, beating the horse about the head with his quirt.  When the horse rushed at him through a rain of blows across its nose Ted retreated beyond reach of its hoofs, then attacked it again.