THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA. 137 



ceived that a couple were heading toward the spot where he was standing, and were 

 quite sure to pass within reach. 



" That suits me," he said to himself ; " I only wish they would come close enough 

 to lasso both at the same time.'' 



The Texan had not long to wait. The pretty creatures approached at a swift 

 gallop, the male leading the dainty female by a few paces, and entered the grove at 

 it point which would bring both within a biscuit's toss of where he was standing. 



Whin I 



At the critical moment the loop dropped ever the long horns of the male, and 

 Jack quickly coiled the other end round a sapling at his elbow. 



The oryx was checked so suddenly that he was thrown to the ground with con- 

 siderable force. Before he could rise, his captor was kneeling over him with one 

 of the horns grasped in either hand. He was afraid the noose would slip along the 

 smooth length, and allow the animal to free himself and dash off. 



The instant his muscular hands closed around the glossy horns at the base, Jack 

 gained a vivid idea of the capacity of those weapons to do harm. They felt warm 

 , at the base, as though throbbing with the vitality of the owner, which continued his 

 fierce effort to rise to his feet. Not only that, but he tried to strike his enemy with 

 the horns, curving his nose between his fore legs and flirting the weapons outward. 

 His position, however, prevented any effectiveness, and Jack found no difficulty in 

 holding his advantage. 



That his precaution was wise was proven by the fact that, the moment he seized 

 the horns, the noose, which had closed tightly around the base, slipped lalf way to 

 the tips. Had the horns been spiral, like those of the koodoo, or had th y spread at 

 the top, they would have formed an excellent support for the lasso, bu. I have re- 

 ferred to their perfect similarity and evenness, which would have made it easy for 

 the oryx to slide the rope off, had he been free to make the attempt. 



Holding the beautiful head flat against the earth, Jack whipped tl ; noose over 

 the fore leg of the prisoner, where, by drawing it taut, he could hold him fast against 

 all struggles. The flesh was yielding, and the irregular contour of the limb pre- 

 vented the rope being shaken off. 



The task would have been simple for the cowboy, but for an unexpected inter- 

 ruption. 



At the moment the male was thrown, the female whisked by in full flight. The 

 sight of the mishap of her mate, however, brought her to a sudden stop, and, 

 wheeling about with her head aloft, she stared wonderingly at the scene. 



With more devotion than most animals would have shown under such trying cir- 

 cumstances, she rushed to the help of her overturned lord. Jack noticed her danc- 

 ing around and preparing to gore him. He saw that she must be given attention, 

 if he wished to save himself from exceedingly unpleasant consequences. 



But he did not dare rise from the ground until he had the male fast, for he was 

 determined to hold him at all hazards. The necessity of keeping an eye on both 

 nade this difficult. He could have ended the trouble by killing the female with 



