A WILD THOROUGHBRED 155 



The usual method of breaking a horse who is at 

 all spirited is to saddle him while blindfolded or 

 tied. The cowboy swings into the saddle an 

 instant in advance of the releasing of the ropes 

 or removing of the blind. With quirt and spurs 

 he endeavours to excite the horse to use energy 

 rapidly, and to exhaust himself in ways least 

 likely to disconcert the rider. 



Black Diamond was a superior horse, but this 

 was not even considered when it came to riding 

 him. He was handled as though a man-killer. 

 Each would-be rider in turn treated him like a 

 beast. There was no opportunity for him to act 

 calmly. However, he exerted little effort until 

 the first would-be rider swung into the saddle. 

 Then, so to speak, he "set things on fire." His 

 moves to throw the cowboy were lightning- 

 like and calculating. There were no mad, blind, 

 exhausting efforts. 



One, two, three riders, in rapid succession, he 

 tossed to the earth. The instant the first rider 

 was thrown the horse relaxed, and walked to the 

 edge of the corral, seeing everything; but as there 

 appeared no opening no opportunity to escape 

 he put up his proud head and looked around. 

 As a fourth crack rider swung desperately into 

 the saddle, Black Diamond reared to the ver- 

 tical, wheeled quickly, facing about, and came 

 down on his forefeet so violently that the rider, 



