Smoky's eyes was on Jeff with a steady warning in 'em for him to keep his distance--and Jeff did Smoky stuck his head and neck out far as he could and nickered at the sight of the cowboy Clint was about to get on his horse and ride away, but he stopped, and felt of Smoky's hide once more Feed was aplenty and the little pawing that had to be done to reach it was like so much exercise and only kept his blood in good circulating order The black was jerked off his feet, rolled plum over, and he lit head first on the other side Smoky and Pecos' hides begin a itching and the two was often busy scratching one another Slow and easy Clint raised a hand and held it to within a few inches of his nose Old Tom didn't even get well set that time, Smoky bowed his head and went out from under him leaving him come down on the other side Many a cowboy had remarked it was worth the price of a good show to watch Smoky outdodge the critter The next day Clint was busy bringing the weak stock closer to the ranch Heavy drifts was lunged into and hit on a high run as they tried to leave the rider behind And even tho cattle is what the round up wagons was out for, there was more eyes out for Smoky Clint'd keep on comparing whatever horse he'd be riding with Smoky, and find that pony (no matter how good he was) a mighty poor excuse as compared with the mouse colored horse that was missing A rope had settled around his neck once, he'd fought till it broke,--and run on a dragging it And while the breed was getting as much of the saddle under him as he could, the cowboy took off the foot ropes Smoky's interest was all for shedding the saddle right then and all that carried the breed's smell That pony had been harder to get near than any of the wild ones he was with The breed would often watch him thru the corral poles and wonder The horse had been found out on the desert, amongst a bunch of wild horses and packing an empty saddle In front of the crowded grandstand is where his fame as a man-hating, bucking outlaw begin to spread The chute gate would fly open, and out would come a tearing, bellering hunk of steel coils to land out a ways, and like a ton of lava from above, jar the earth even up to the grandstand The Cougar reared up while the rider was still in the air, then turned, and with his ears back, teeth a flashing, hoofs a striking with lightning speed, went to carry out his heart's craving About that time the mouse colored outlaw peeked thru the bars of the chute at him and snorted He wasn't caring right then if it was said that he didn't ride the horse to the finish The long horned "Sonora reds" begin to spread all over the range countries of the U. S. plum up to the Canadian line No remuda got by that Clint didn't ride thru As he stepped out to get a bucket of water the morning sun throwed a shadow on the door SMOKY CHAPTER I