按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
went off in a frenzy of pitching the moment its rider dropped into the
saddle。
〃Y'u'll go a long way before you see better ridin' than his and Mac's。
Notice how he gives to its pitching；〃 said Bannister； as he watched his
cousin's perfect ease in the cyclone of which he was the center。
〃I expect it depends on the kind of a 'hawss；'〃 she mocked。 〃He's riding
well； isn't he？〃
〃I don't know any that ride better。〃
The horse put up a superb fight； trying everything it knew to unseat
this demon clamped to its back。 It possessed in combination all the worst
vices； was a weaver； a sunfisher and a fence…rower； and never had it tried
112
… Page 113…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
so desperately to maintain its record of never having been ridden。 But the
outlaw in the saddle was too much for the outlaw underneath。 He was
master； just as he was first among the ruffians whom he led； because there
was in him a red…hot devil of wickedness that would brook no rival。
The furious bronco surrendered without an instant's warning； and its
rider slipped at once to the ground。 As he sauntered through the dust
toward the grand stand； Helen could not fail to see how his vanity sunned
itself in the applause that met his performance。 His equipment was perfect
to the least detail。 The reflection from a lady's looking…glass was no
brighter than the silver spurs he jingled on his sprightly heels。 Strikingly
handsome in a dark； sinister way； one would say at first sight； and later
would chafe at the justice of a verdict not to be denied。
Ned Bannister rose from his seat beside Helen。 〃Wish me luck；〃 he
said； with his gay smile。
〃I wish you all the luck you deserve；〃 she answered。
〃Oh； wish me more than that if y'u want me to win。〃
〃I didn't say I wanted you to win。 You take the most unaccountable
things for granted。〃
〃I've a good mind to win； then； just to spite y'u；〃 he laughed。
〃As if you could；〃 she mocked； but her voice took a softer intonation
as she called after him in a low murmur： 〃Be careful； please。〃
His white teeth flashed a smile of reassurance at her。 〃I've never been
killed yet。〃
〃Ned Bannister on Steamboat；〃 sang out the megaphone man。
〃I'm ce'tainly in luck。 Steamboat's the worst hawss on the range；〃 he
told himself； as he strode down the grand stand to enter the arena。
The announcement of his name created for the second time that day a
stir of unusual interest。 Everybody in that large audience had heard of Ned
Bannister； knew of his record as a 〃bad man〃 and his prowess as the king
of the Shoshone country； suspected him of being a train and bank robber
as well as a rustler。 That he should have the boldness to enter the contest in
his own name seemed to show how defiant he was of the public sentiment
against him； and how secure he counted himself in flaunting this contempt。
As for the sheepman； the notoriety that his cousin's odorous reputation had
113
… Page 114…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
thrust upon him was extremely distasteful as well as dangerous； but he had
done nothing to disgrace his name； and he meant to use it openly。 He could
almost catch the low whispers that passed from mouth to mouth about
him。
〃Ain't it a shame that a fellow like that； leader of all the criminals that
hide in the mountains； can show himself openly before ten thousand
honest folks？〃 That he knew to be the purport of their whispering； and
along with it went a recital of the crimes he had committed。 How he was a
noted 〃waddy；〃 or cattle…rustler； how he and his gang had held up three
trains in eighteen months； how he had killed Tom Mooney； Bob Carney
and several othersthese were the sorts of things that were being said
about him； and from the bottom of his soul he resented his impotency to
clear his name。
There was something in Bannister's riding that caught Helen's fancy at
once。 It was the unconscious grace of the man； the ease with which he
seemed to make himself a very part of the horse。 He attempted no tricks；
rode without any flourishes。 But the perfect poise of his lithe body as it
gave with the motions of the horse； proclaimed him a born rider； so
finished； indeed； that his very ease seemed to discount the performance。
Steamboat had a malevolent red eye that glared hatred at the oppressor
man； and to…day it lived up to its reputation of being the most vicious and
untamed animal on the frontier。 But； though it did its best to unseat the
rider and trample him underfoot； there was no moment when the issue
seemed in doubt save once。 The horse flung itself backward in a
somersault； risking its own neck in order to break its master's。 But he was
equal to the occasion； and when Steamboat staggered again to its feet
Bannister was still in the saddle。 It was a daring and magnificent piece of
horsemanship； and； though he was supposed to be a desperado and a
ruffian； his achievement met with a breathless gasp； followed by
thunderous applause。
The battle between horse and man was on again； for the animal was as
strong almost in courage as the rider。 But Steamboat's confidence had been
shaken as well as its strength。 Its efforts grew less cyclonic。 Foam covered
its mouth and flecked its sides。 The pitches were easy to foresee and meet。
114
… Page 115…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
Presently they ceased altogether。
Bannister slid from the saddle and swayed unsteadily across the arena。
The emergency past； he had scarce an ounce of force left in him。 Jim
McWilliams ran out and slipped an arm around his shoulders； regardless
of what his friends might think of him for it。
〃You're all in； old man。 Y'u hadn't ought to have ridden； even though
y'u did skin us all to a finish。〃
〃Nonsense； Mac。 First place goes to y'u oror Jack Holloway。〃
〃Not unless the judges are blind。〃
But Bannister's prediction proved true。 The champion； Sanford； had
been traveling with a Wild West show； and was far too soft to compete
with these l