"Now, Tom, don't tell us that," commanded Rhoda. "You know there
isn't a horse on the ranch that can come anywhere near him in
speed."

"That's right," admitted Tom. "But I come on him sudden and
unexpected."

"How did it happen?" asked Walter.

"Did you know the boss sent me home ahead of you folks from the
rodeo? That's how come I didn't get to ride after those raiders
with the other boys. I never do have no luck," said Tom. "If it
rained soup I wouldn't have no spoon, and a hole in my hat.

"Well, it was this-a-way: I was riding right along yonder, making
for the ranch house, and not thinking of nothing--not a thing!
Crossing the mouth of one of them gulches--'twasn't far beyond the
one where you gals took refuge from the big wind--all of a sudden
my pony throwed up his head and nickered, and out of the slot in
the hill come trottin' that big, handsome black critter!

"My soul and body!" exclaimed the cowboy earnestly, "if I'd had my
rope handy I could have put the noose right over his head! It
certainly did give me a shock."

"Humph!" said Rhoda, "it's always the biggest fishes, daddy says,
that get away."

"I guess the Big Boss is right," agreed Tom Collins. "That black
feller, he swung around on his hind laigs, and he skedaddled up