The man who could stand a
brief ten seconds' punishment astride of the outlaw was considered a
pretty fair rider. It was customary to time the performance, as one
would time a race, but in the instance of riding Blue Smoke the man was
timed rather than the horse. So far, Bailey himself held the record.
He had stayed with the outlaw fifteen seconds.
Pete learned this, and much more, about Blue Smoke's disposition while
the men ate and joked with Mrs. Bailey. And Mrs. Bailey, good woman,
was no less eloquent than the men in describing the outlaw's unenviable
temperament, never dreaming that the men would allow a boy of Pete's
years to ride the horse. Pete, a bit embarrassed in this lively
company, attended heartily to his plate. He gathered, indirectly, that
he was expected to demonstrate his ability as a rider, sooner or later.
He hoped that it would be later.
After dinner the men loafed out and gravitated lazily toward the
corral, where they stood eying the horses and commenting on this and
that pony. Pete had eyes for no horse but Blue Smoke. He admitted to
himself that he did not want to ride that horse.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143