It fell
harmlessly on the other side of his pony and a quick pressure of the
spurs took boy and pony from under it.
With a "yip-yip" Tad rushed at his opponent. The latter had had no
time to gather in his own lariat, but he began shortening it up
intending to swing it from where it lay on the ground.
His opponent gave him no time for this.
Tad made a quick cast. The cowboy threw himself to one side, but the
loop of the lariat that had been thrown true reached his broad
sombrero, neatly snipping it from his head.
The spectators uttered a yell of approval. They shook out their
revolvers, sending a rattling volley up into the air.
Tad Butler had scored first.
His opponent was angered almost beyond control. That a mere boy could
thus outwit him, which Tad had neatly done, was too much for his fiery
temper.
With a growl of rage he drove his horse straight at the lad. It was
plain that it was the fellow's intention to ride him down, which Tad
circumvented by standing still until the man was nearly upon him, and
then driving his pony out of the path of the oncoming horseman.
Each began a series of manoeuvres, the purpose of which was to place
the rider behind his opponent, but each proved too wary to be caught
in any such way.
The contest was growing hotter every moment, and the spectators were
getting worked up to a high pitch of excitement.
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