sunning himself in his corner, and at their entrance
only cocked his ears and blinked his eyes lazily.
Outside the inclosure Helen, together with a
scattering of spectators, attracted by the word
of this treat in town, stood quietly expectant.
One of the assistants, a raw-boned individual with
hairy wrists, drove Pat out of his corner, while
the professional, a large man of quiet demeanor,
turned to Miguel, who was standing in the stable
door, and put a question to him. Miguel, out
of his own experience, warned them against the
horse. Whereupon the large man neatly roped
Pat, settling the noose skilfully around the horse's
neck.

Instantly Pat was a quivering bundle of nerves.
Bracing his legs, he drew back on the rope. But
the man held to it grimly. The man did more.
He suddenly raced across the inclosure, gave the
rope a deft twist, and followed the twist with a
vigorous jerk. Pat plunged heavily to the ground.

He lay dazed, breathing laboriously, till the
rope slackened. Then he started to rise. But he
only gained his fore legs. The second assistant,
a slender youth, resisted his efforts, forcing Pat's
head back by sitting upon it. Pat twisted and
writhed to throw him off. But the man stayed
with him, and finally had him prone to earth
again. Whereupon Pat experienced the chagrin
of his first defeat. Yet he could see. Upon the
retina of each eye danced a picture. It was that
of his mistress, surrounded by open-mouthed
spectators, outside the fence, gazing down upon

[[58]]

p057 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p058w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p059

v?