"Look out!" shouted the officer. "Hey there, young man!" to Roy. "Git out of the street!" But Roy had other intentions. He handed his valise to De Royster, who was vainly pulling him by the arm. "Come on out of here!" cried De Royster. "You'll get run over." "Take my satchel," said Roy. "What are you going to do?" "I'm going to stop that horse!" "You'll be killed!" "Say, I guess I know how to handle horses. It won't be the first one I've caught!" Mortimer De Royster, giving one more look at the maddened animal, which was now close at hand, made a leap for the sidewalk. Roy looked up, gauged the distance, and, to his horror saw that the cab contained a lady and a little girl. There was no driver on the seat. "Look out! You'll be killed!" shouted several in the crowd. "The boy's crazy!" muttered the policeman He took a step forward, as if to drag Roy out of the way. The next instant the boy had made a leap, just as the horse reached him. It was a leap to one side, but not to get out of the way. It was only to escape the flying hoofs, for, an instant later, Roy had the plunging horse by the bridle, and was hanging on for dear life. CHAPTER XII AT THE HOTEL There were confused shouts from the crowd. Several men rushed forward, in spite of the efforts of the officer to hold them back. Women screamed, and several fainted. The horse was rearing and kicking, but Roy, plucky lad that he was, held on like grim death. With one hand firmly grasping the bridle, he reached up with the other, and clasped the nostrils of the horse in a tight grip. This served to prevent the horse from breathing well, and, as his lungs needed plenty of air, on account of his fast run, the animal probably concluded he had met his master. "That's right! Hold him!" called a man. "I'll help you in a minute!" "I guess I can manage him now," said Roy calmly. "There now, old fellow," he went on, speaking soothingly to the horse. The animal was having hard work to breathe. Roy saw this and loosened his hold slightly. Then he began to pat the horse, continuing to speak to it. The animal, which was more frightened than vicious, began to calm down. "I've got him!" exclaimed the policeman, coming up and taking hold of the bridle. "Oh, he's all right now; aren't you, old fellow?" spoke Roy, as he rubbed the horse's muzzle. Indeed the animal did seem to be. His dangerous hoofs were still, and, though he trembled a bit, he was quieting down. "That was a fine catch, my lad," remarked one man. "Where did you learn to stop runaway horses?" "Out on my father's ranch in Colorado. This is nothing. We have a runaway every day out there. I've often caught 'em." "Then the city ought to hire a few lads like you to give some of our policemen lessons," went on the man, with a meaning glance at the officer.