60 AN OVERTHROW. 



As was his custom when he required the use of both hands, he slung his Win- 

 chester over his back, whence he could bring it with the same amazing quickness 

 with which a Texan secures the "drop " on an enemy by whipping out his revolver. 



Jack's mustang was not only swift, but intelligent. He needed no prodding to 

 understand that his rider wished to be brought within lasso distance, as it may be 

 called, of the giant ostrich that was leading the herd. The steed proceeded to do 

 so with the skill that he had displayed in placing the cowboy many a time along- 

 side of a plunging buffalo bull. The reins lay on his neck, and Jack held himself 

 ready for the hazardous exploit. 



Our friends were "making history" with a rush. The mustang and the leading 

 ostrich were converging with a mathematical surety that, if continued, was sure to 

 bring the two in collision, but at the moment when such a meeting seemed inev- 

 itable, the steed, of his own accord, swerved slightly to the left, so that the lines of 

 flight immediately become parallel. The fugitive did not vary an inch to the right 

 or left. Had a stone wall suddenly risen in front of him, more than likely he would 

 have dashed out his brains against it. 



That is, if it can be believed the ostrich is the owner of any brains to dash out. 



The mustang was slightly in advance of the bird, which was where his rider 

 wished him to be. He was still on a dead run, but the game was steadily gaining. 



Already Jack Harvey was circling the loops of the lasso above his head, just as 

 one does when preparing to cast it around the neck of a fleeing fugitive. 



Swifter and swifter hummed the loops until they resembled the misty spokes of 

 a rapidly revolving wheel. Then, like the coiled serpent, they shot forward, straight 

 at the projecting head of the king ostrich. 



The aim was unerring, but the bird ducked and escaped the loop by a hair's 

 breadth, the rope dragging along the ground as the Texan hurriedly gathered it in, 

 knowing that, with the astonishing speed of the bird, it was impossible to secure 

 more than a second chance to lasso him. 



Now, don't make the mistake of supposing it was the sagacity of the ostrich that 

 led him to dodge the whizzing coil. The sudden lowering of his head was an 

 instinctive movement, caused by the sight of the arrowy rope shooting toward him. 



It was Jack Harvey that showed his mental keenness by reading the act aright. 

 He meant to take that into calculation when making his second throw. 



I need not tell you that no time was lost. The ostrich had come abreast of the 

 mustang and passed beyond, before Jack, with all his dexterity, could gather in the 

 rope and fling it again. 



The pony was running for all he was worth. He must have experienced an 

 emotion of wonder when he entered into a contest of speed and saw that his 

 antagonist could outrun him, but, with a pluck characteristic of the gallant steed, 

 he strained every muscle, as though there was a fighting chance of reaching the goal 

 first. 



As I said, Jack Harvey, when throwing a second time, took into calculation the 

 probability that the ostrich would duck his head as in the first instance. 



