CHAPTER XXI
AT THE RANCH
As the ranchman watched this scene, his face was a study, but he soonforgot it in listening to the conversation between Thomas and Bob.
"Do you think it was quite fair to run away while I was trying to find apony for you?" asked the agent.
"Don't scold, Hal," returned Bob. "I suppose it wasn't quite fair. But Iwanted to surprise you by getting a job myself, without anybody's help."
Smiling at the boy's independence, Thomas asked:
"Have you got it?"
Before Bob could answer, the ranchman interposed:
"Looks like it, don't it? First he won my--I mean his--dog, and then hewon me. Yes, Hal, Bob's landed and you can tell Ned Higgins from me thatif he tries to put up any more jokes on Bob, I'll fix him so he can'tspeak for a year."
"All right, John," smiled the agent. "But I reckon he won't try anymore!"
So significant was the agent's tone that Bob inquired anxiously:
"You didn't do anything to him for sending me to Mr. Ford, did you,Hal?"
"No, not much," returned Thomas grimly. Yet had he told the entire truthhe would have said he had administered such a beating to the practicaljoker, upon learning where he had sent Bob, as Fairfax had never seengiven by one man to another.
"Won't you come in?" asked the ranchman.
"No, thanks. Can't stop. Got to get back for a train. Here, Bob, comeand mount Firefly. He's yours."
"What, you bought Firefly for this boy?" exclaimed Ford in surprise.
"That's what." Then turning to Bob, he added, "Put your left foot in thestirrup and swing into the saddle. That's the way. Say, John, let Bobride back a way with me. I want to show him a few things about a pony."
"Oh, do!" chimed in Bob.
"All right, though I was calculating to teach him myself," returnedFord, a light such as the station agent had never before seen in hiseyes.
"Can I take Chester?" asked Bob.
"Sure, he's yours!"
"Come, boy," called Bob. Then noticing that Hal wanted to say a word tothe ranchman, he exclaimed: "Don't tell him who I am, _please_." And asthe agent hesitated, he added, shrewdly, "Mr. Nichols wouldn't like it."
"All right, if you say not," returned Hal.
And wheeling their ponies, the two rode off across the plains, the dogbounding joyfully along at Bob's side.
Gazing after them, even when they had disappeared from sight, stood JohnFord.
As the agent had said, Firefly was so gentle and had such an easy gaitthat after the first few minutes' fear had passed Bob found he could notonly keep in the saddle, but could enjoy the motion of the pony.
Critically Thomas watched him, riding close at his side to be at hand incase of trouble, finally exclaiming in hearty approval:
"You take to a horse like a duck to water, Bob."
"Do you mean that, Hal?"
"I sure do. Now dismount and I'll show you a trick or two." And as soonas the boy was on the ground, he continued: "Some ponies have a mean wayof starting just as soon as you put your foot in the stirrups. No matterhow nervous your mount is, by drawing the left rein--remember you alwayshandle a saddle horse from the left side--so short that it turns thepony's head, you can make him circle round and round, instead ofrunning straight ahead, which will give you a chance to swing into thesaddle. Now try it."
Without difficulty Bob performed the feat.
"Good," commented his instructor. "We'll both dismount and I'll teachyou how to hobble your pony. Whenever you turn a pony loose on theplains, whether in the day time or at night, always hobble him. Younever know what may happen when you are 'punching cattle' and oftentimesby having your pony handy it will save you a lot of trouble, to put itmildly."
While he was speaking, Thomas had taken Bob's lariat, which hung fromthe pommel of his saddle, and drawing the noose small had slipped itover his pony's right hoof.
"There are two ways of hobbling," he continued, "one, to tie the frontand hind feet on the same side, the other, to tie both front feet. Asponies are often mighty lively animals, I don't need to tell you thedanger or difficulty of trying to put a rope around their hind legs. Buttying the front feet is easy. Allow about seven inches of rope, thentake a couple of turns around the left fetlock, make a half-hitch andtie the rest of your rope about the pony's neck.
"Always remember to do that. If you don't, some time the rope end maycatch between the rocks or become tangled in some way and causetrouble.
"When you stop to rest after a hard ride, always unsaddle, whether youunbridle or not, and then wipe the dirt and sweat from where the saddlehas been. It rests a pony more than anything you can do.
"At night, when you are on the plains, always use your saddle for apillow, then no one can steal it from you.
"Those are the main points. Any special tricks you'll pick up from Johnand the boys.
"Oh, there's one more thing: whenever you dismount for any length oftime, pull the reins over the pony's head and either throw them over apost or else let them drag on the ground. I don't know why it is, but itseems to make the pony think he is tied."
The lesson over, Bob and Hal remounted and rode on.
At the request of the latter, the boy related his experience at Ford'sranch. As he did so, the agent looked at him with an expression ofmingled amazement and approval, and as the story was finished,exclaimed:
"Bob, you sure are a wonder! How you had the nerve to face that dog onfoot, I don't see. Many a man on horseback has been forced to turn andflee. How did you do it?"
"Oh, I don't know. Just looked him in the eye and spoke to him, that'sall."
But the explanation did not satisfy the agent.
"I don't understand it," he said. "I fully expected to find you lying inFord's cabin all chewed up. And here your clothes aren't even torn. Idon't understand it. This is the first time Chester has ever madefriends with anybody. He only minds Ford because he's afraid of him."