"Why, that Bucky is a regular rocking-horse, I bet," declared Tom, who, for a city boy, was a pretty good rider. "Get down and ride him, Tommy," urged Sue. "Can't you ride as well as these country boys?" "I never said I could," retorted Tom, doubtfully. "You girls are guying the punchers, too. Why don't one o' you get down and show 'em what you can do?" "Frances can beat all you boys riding, Tommy," Mrs. Edwards cried. "Bet she couldn't even get aboard of that Bucky," young Gallup instantly responded. "You're not going to take a dare like that, are you, Frances?" demanded Mrs. Edwards. Sue became disdainful the moment Frances came into the argument. She had nothing further to say. "I believe the boys are all holding back on that little buckskin," said Frances, laughing. "Step right this way, Ma'am, step right this way," urged Fred Purchase, bowing low and offering his lariat. "Here's my rope and I'll lend ye anything else ye may need if ye wanter try that Bucky. He's some bronco, believe me!" Frances got down off the fence. "Oh! don't you try it, Frances!" cried one nervous girl. "That pony looks wicked!" "Let her break her neck, if she wants to make a fool of herself!" snapped Sue, _sotto voce_. Nobody heard her. All were watching too closely the range girl approach the buckskin pony. She had accepted Fred's lariat and the coil of it began to whirl about her head. "There it goes!" cried Tom Gallup. The buckskin started on a long, swinging lope; but it could not get out from under the coil of the lariat. The noose fell and the plunging pony went head and forefeet into it. Frances leaped with both feet upon the rope, just as it snapped taut. Bucky went on his head, kicking all four feet in the air. "Got him! got him!" shrieked the excited Tom, and the girls cheered likewise. And then the lariat snapped in two! Muddied and scratched, the buckskin scrambled to his feet, his eyes blazing, nostrils distended, and as wild a horse as ever came off the range. "Look out, Miss Frances!" yelled Mack Hinkman, who had just come upon the scene. "That thar buckskin hawse is a bad actor." "Oh! the dear girl! Whatever did possess me to urge her on?" cried Mrs. Edwards. "Boys! Save her!" But it was all over before any of the punchers, or the visitors on the fence, could go to Frances' rescue. The buckskin rose on his hind legs and struck at the girl desperately. She had gathered in the slack of the broken lariat and she swung it sharply across the pony's face, leaping sideways to avoid him. The pony whirled and struck again, whistling shrilly, the foam flying from his jaws. Once more Frances avoided him.