Part 12 (1/2)

”I will attend to that. I will send a trustworthy man,” and he spoke to the servant who was waiting on the table. In a short time he returned with a tall, sinewy man, with straight black hair and dark skin. He gave this man the necessary instructions and with a ”Si, Senor,” the man went out.

”A good reliable fellow,” remarked Jim. ”He looks like an Indian.”

”He is an Indian,” replied their host, ”but of the right kind. Your horse is in good hands.”

”Tell him to bring him down to the ranch,” said Jim. ”I'll trust Caliente with him.” The Indian was called back and under his stolid demeanor was an appreciation of Jim's confidence.

Breakfast over they went out on the verandah, where they could see the horses. They were spirited looking beasts all right. One was a bay, the two front legs white stockinged, very trimly built, with a flas.h.i.+ng eye, that he kept rolling around. The boy who was holding him had his hands full, as the bay would rise on his hind legs and strike out viciously with his forefeet.

The other animal was much heavier than the bay. A brilliant black, whose coat fairly shone with careful grooming. He had been standing comparatively quiet until the three appeared upon the verandah of the house, then, with a sudden surge backward, he dragged the Mexican boy off his feet, shaking his head viciously.

”We ought to be armed, Senor,” advised Jim. ”If we should overtake those men, they will put up a desperate fight.”

”Certainly, Senor,” he answered. ”Come into this room and select your weapon.”

After both Jim and Jo were armed, they went out to the horses.

CHAPTER XIV

THE PURSUIT

All the servants seemed just now to find duties of importance in front of the house or near it. They had no idea of missing the chance of seeing these Gringoes, whom they held in contempt, thrown from their horses.

Jim took the black and Jo was left the red, the easiest to manage even if he seemed the liveliest. Jo was too quick for his horse and before he could whirl to one side, he was in the saddle. Then his animal reared and plunged but Jo sat on him as easily as a cowboy does his steed.

There was no mistaking his horsemans.h.i.+p. The servants were duly and deeply disappointed.

But their hopes revived when they saw Jim tackle the black. He began that steady sideways movement which Jim knew so well, whenever he tried to put his foot in the stirrup. The servants began to smile, here would be some fun. The ”Black Devil,” as they called the horse, had been known to kill men, so they had pleasant antic.i.p.ations. When Jim found that he could not mount by the stirrup, he made a quick, powerful leap and was in the saddle.

”Bravo!” cried the Senor Sebastian, but he knew that the fight had just begun.

Jo looked on with interest and perfect confidence in brother Jim's ability. The black stood perfectly stunned for a moment or two at being so suddenly mounted, then he sprang into action. With his back in a hump he shot into the air and came down stiff-legged.

Without loss of a second he went into the air again, higher than before.

From the corral the Mexican cowboys were looking at the duel between the horse and the boy with lively interest.

”The Diablo will kill him,” said one nonchalantly, blowing a puff of smoke from his cigarette.

”Five dollars that the Gringo stays on,” said a second. The wager was made and others followed, for the Mexicans are inveterate gamblers. The third time the horse pitched into the air, Jim swaying with the animal's every motion as the trained cowboy does. Finding that he could not dislodge his rider that way, the black rose on his hind legs to a perpendicular position.

Jim knew the trick of old, and was prepared for it. As the horse started to fall backwards, Jim who had been sticking like a leech, leaped lightly to the ground and with all his strength, pulling upon the bridle, slammed him to the ground. No sooner was the horse upon his feet again than Jim was in the saddle.

Once more he tried that falling back trick and this time Jim brought him down upon the damp earth with a thud that jarred things. The black devil had had enough. He stood quivering and sweating, but for the time being subdued.

”Bravo!” cried the Senor Sebastian again, and he shook his guest by the hand warmly. ”You are a true horseman. Now we shall go. We shall eat up the miles.”

The crowd of cowboys swung their hats in a salute to the Gringo, who could conquer the black devil, while the house servants, disappointed at the stranger's triumph, went back to their different tasks.

The three hors.e.m.e.n galloped away down the sloping pasture, the Spaniard in advance as he knew the country and the most direct way to the coast.