The Pacing Mustang 



the feet were drawn together, and down went 

 the raging Pacer to lie a moment later 'hog-tied ' 

 and helpless on the ground. There he struggled 

 till worn out, sobbing great convulsive sobs 

 while tears ran down his cheeks. 



Tom stood by and watched, but a strange re- 

 vulsion of feeling came over the old cow- 

 puncher. He trembled nervously from head to 

 foot, as he had not done since he roped his first 

 steer, and for a while could do nothing but gaze 

 on his tremendous prisoner. But the feeling soon 

 passed away. He saddled Delilah, and taking 

 the second lasso, roped the great horse about 

 the neck, and left the mare to hold the Stallion's 

 head, while he put on the hobbles. This was 

 soon done, and sure of him now old Bates was 

 about to loose the ropes, but on a sudden 

 thought he stopped. He had quite forgotten, 

 and had come unprepared for something of im- 

 portance. In Western law the Mustang was the 

 property of the first man to mark him with his 

 brand ; how was this to be done with the near- 

 est branding-iron twenty miles away? 



Old Tom went to his mare, took up her hoofs 

 one at a time, and examined each shoe. Yes ! 



267 



