A BUCK-JUMPER. 281 



Every cowboy rode with a Winchester carbine in a sheath on 

 the off side of the saddle, where it could be grasped in a 

 moment, and all of them had one or more revolvers. The 

 man who had been speared was armed in this way ; but they 

 said that he was a new hand, and only lately from the east, 

 and consequently lost his head. We remained the night, and 

 in the morning the " boss " told us that we should witness some 

 fun with one of the worst buck -jumpers he had ever come across ; 

 so we went out to see him mounted. The horse was a small 

 chestnut, about fourteen hands high, with a very wicked eye ; 

 but he came up quietly to have the saddle put on, and we were 

 afraid that there would be no fun that morning ; but we were 

 mistaken ; for, almost before his rider was in the saddle, he 

 began putting his head between his fore legs, arching his back, 

 and jumping stiff-legged, going up with his head one way and 

 coming down with it the other, turning half round in the air. 

 The cowboy used his spurs well and forced him up the bank 

 out of which the shack was cut ; but he came down again, 

 bucking all the way, turning round even when coming down 

 the steep slope. His rider sat splendidly, not seeming to mind 

 it at all, sending him up twice only to return immediately ; 

 but the third time, with all the boys shouting and using their 

 whips, he went up with a rush and galloped off. 



We tried the country round the ranche, but saw very little 

 game, what there was being very wild ; so we returned to camp 

 that night, and found that our cook had shot a fine buck while 

 sitting by the camp-fire. 



One day, when F and I were out together, F made 



a curious shot. He had stalked a young buck and had fired 

 at him at about two hundred yards, not being able to get 



