The crowd was offering advice and suggestions freely, but both men
turned a deaf ear to all of this. Their whole beings were centered on
the work in hand.
Once both men cast and their lariats locked, the cowboy's loop having
slipped over Tad's.
The foreman called a halt while he untied the tangle. The instant
this had been accomplished, Tad drew in his with one hand, coiling it
at the pony's side.
"Remember, I haven't called time," warned the foreman. "You are still
roping."
Tad knew that, but he did not wish to take an unfair advantage.
The cowboy looked up with a startled expression on his face, but
nodded and began hauling in his rope when he noted that Tad was making
no move.
His rope was in.
"All ready," he said.
So was Tad. The boy's lariat shot gracefully through the air, landing
neatly over the cowman's shoulders where it was quickly jerked taut
before the other fully realized what had happened.
CHAPTER XIX
WRECKED IN AN ORE CAR
It was all the ranch owner could do to keep peace after Tad Butler had
so cleverly outwitted his adversary in the rope throwing contest.
Yet, though the defeated man was fairly beside himself with rage, the
cowboys generally favored fair play.
Their companion had been beaten in a fair contest, principally because
his opponent had been quicker witted.
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