Oak Spring 



Baldy reached out vigorously with his hind feet. But 

 for Jim, he would have escaped. 



&quot;What s all the row?&quot; called Jones from the 

 cabin. Then from the door, taking in the situation, 

 he yelled : &quot; Hold on, Jim ! Pull down on the ornery 

 old cayuse! &quot; 



He leaped into action with a lasso in each hand, 

 one whirling round his head. The slender rope 

 straightened with a whiz and whipped round Baldy s 

 legs as he kicked viciously. Jones pulled it tight, 

 then fastened it with nimble fingers to the tree. 



&quot;Let go! let go, Jim! &quot; he yelled, whirling the 

 other lasso. The loop flashed and fell over Baldy s 

 head and tightened round his neck. Jones threw all 

 the weight of his burly form on the lariat, and Baldy 

 crashed to the ground, rolled, tussled, screamed, and 

 then lay on his back, kicking the air with three free 

 legs. &quot; Hold this ! &quot; ordered Jones, giving the tight 

 rope to Frank. Whereupon he grabbed my lasso 

 from the saddle, roped Baldy s two forefeet, and 

 pulled him down on his side. This lasso he fastened 

 to a scrub cedar. 



&quot; He s chokin ! &quot; said Frank. 



&quot; Likely he is,&quot; replied Jones shortly. &quot; It ll do 

 him good.&quot; But with his big hands he drew the coil 

 loose and slipped it down over Baldy s nose, where 

 he tightened it again. 



101 



