"Oh, Jenny for the wheel team and Duke for the lead team, I think," decided Harry. "By rights, Jenny ought to have the lead, because she's faster; and Duke ought to have the pole, because he's heavier. But Jenny is quick-tempered with her heels, you know, and Duke is quick-tempered with his head, so we'd best keep their tempers separated. We can teach Duke to 'haw' and 'gee,' but Jenny's main accomplishment is simply to 'haw-haw.'" "Here comes George," announced Terry. "Now he'll 'haw-haw,' too." Through the gloaming another boy was loping in, on a spotted pony. He was a wiry, black-eyed boy--George Stanton, from the Stanton ranch some two miles down the valley. "Whoop-ee! Which way you going?" he challenged. "What is it--a show?" "Going to Pike's Peak," retorted Terry. "Tonight? With that team? Aw----!" "Pretty soon, though. We're practising." "Watch us, and you'll see us drive to the corral," invited Harry. "Let's turn 'em around, Terry. Easy, now. I'll hold Jenny back and you hurry Duke." "I'll help," proffered the obliging George. "Gwan, Duke." "Duke! Gwan!" ordered Terry. "Whoa, Jenny! Steady, Jenny!" cautioned Harry. With Harry hauling on the lines, George, pony-back, pressing against Duke's shoulder, and Terry urging him at the flank, they all managed to achieve a half circle. Duke, his eyes bulging with rage and alarm, occasionally balked; Jenny flattened her ears and shook her scarred head; but finally the corral bars were really reached. It seemed like quite a victory. "First lesson ended," decreed Harry. "Too dark, and we're tired if they aren't. We'll put 'em in together and they can talk it over." Released into the corral, neither Jenny nor Duke appeared to be in very good humor. Duke rumbled and pawed, flinging the dirt; Jenny laid her ears and bared her teeth. Suddenly Duke charged; whereat Jenny nimbly whirled, and met him with both hind hoofs. Aside staggered Duke, to stand a moment, glaring at her and rumbling; then he turned and stalked stiffly to the other end of the enclosure. Jenny "hee-hawed" shrill and derisive, and kneeling down, rolled and kicked; scrambled up, shook herself, and began to nose about for husks. "Now they understand each other," remarked Harry. "They've agreed to pull singly." "Say--are you fellows really going to Pike's Peak?" asked George. "With that team?" "Yes, sir-ee. We're in training, aren't we, Terry?" responded Harry. "That's right. Dad said if we'd find our own outfit we could strike out." "We've got the fever, too, sort of, down at our house," confessed George. "That's what I rode up about. Now I guess I'd better go back and tell the folks. Maybe I can join you," he added, waxing excited. "The more the merrier. That will make twenty-five thousand and three," laughed Harry. "If I can't, I'll be coming later," called back George. "We'll locate a claim for you," promised Terry, grandly--as if he and Harry were already on the way. CHAPTER II THE "PIKE'S PEAK LIMITED"