Both animals were running almost neck and neck at the moment.
With a whoop the cowboy let go. His loop closed around the boy's
ankle which from his position on the pony's side, was sticking well up
in the air. Tad's opponent, suddenly braced his pony, while the boy's
mount raced straight ahead.
The result of this move was that Tad Butler was torn from his saddle,
fetching away the stirrup box on one side with him. He struck the
ground violently, and for a moment lay still, while the cowboy sat
grinning, making no effort to learn how badly his adversary was hurt.
The foreman and several others were rushing to the scene. By the time
they reached it, Tad was scrambling to his feet.
"I roped the kid," announced the cowboy, as if it were all finally
settled.
"You roped me by the foot," retorted Tad.
"Yes, that was a foul," said the foreman. "I saw it myself. How'd
you come to do that, Bob?"
"Mistake," answered the cowboy, thus admitting that they were right.
Tad turned on him sharply.
"Did you say it was a mistake?" he asked with a world of meaning in
his tone.
"We will award the prize to you, Butler," announced the owner of the
ranch. "That's the usual way when a foul has been committed."
The cowboy glowered angrily.
"I couldn't think of accepting it, Mr. Jessup," answered Tad,
straightening to his full height.
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