But to the bunch, all them qualities and good points of Smoky's was lost and not at all noticed, his mammy or any of the others would of thought just as much of him if he was just an ordinary horse or even an ill built scrub. They'd all liked him better if he wasn't so ornery and didn't need so much convincing, for Smoky was getting to be of a size and temper along with it where it was mighty hard for some to try to eddicate him and _show_ that they could. His eddication kept on tho for there was still a few that packed a convincing hoof, but them few was dwindling down fast and Smoky was steady getting where he could hold his own with most any of 'em, till finally, and after many showdowns there came a time when there was only two left in the bunch that he wouldn't stop and argue with, them two was his mammy and the big buckskin. Smoky felt some superior and mighty proud then for a while, and it's a good thing he was a little wiser and quieter and not so full of mischief no more or he'd sure dealt them ponies misery; as it was he was now willing to leave them alone if they'd do the same by him. Things went on that way for some time and as the days went by, the bunch was getting to be more willing to accept Smoky as a full size range horse with brains according. None tried to eddicate him no more, and if once in a while he showed young blood and some foolishness they was all careful to overlook it, of course Smoky was wise enough to keep away from his mammy and the buckskin at them times. Peace was with the little bunch, all had some understanding and every horse knowed his ground. It was all so peaceful that Smoky felt it and it all begin to wear on him to the point where he felt like tackling the big buckskin, just to start something--then relief came one day and scattered that peaceful monotony from hell to breakfast. It all happened as the little bunch strung out, was heading for water, Smoky's mammy was in the lead as usual, and she was the first to turn the point of a ridge and find herself to within a few yards of a big black stud. Smoky was close second on the sight, and somehow as he snorted at the long-maned thick-jawed black a hunch came to him that peace had come to a sudden end. He stood in his tracks kinda doubtful as to what to do and watched the black cloud of horseflesh, he'd let the stallion make the first false move--Proud as a peacock came the black, mane and tail a waving and stepping high, his little bunch of mares and colts had stayed back at the first sight of the strange ones and was now watching the proceedings of the meeting. That meeting impressed the young horses a whole lot, the white of their eyes showed with interest as the stud came up to within a few paces of the new bunch, stopped, and with a powerful neck bowed to a half circle, ears pointed ahead, and eyes a shining, stood and sized up the strangers.